Today is the second anniversary of Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam’s passing.
Below is a video of a public memorial gathering at Speakers’ Corner on October 4 , 2008, five days after his passing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rNYepYz14A&feature=related
Feel free to pay your tribute in the comments section.
HELP keep the voice of TOC alive!
If you like this article, please consider a small donation to help theonlinecitizen.com stay alive. Please note that we can only accept donations from Singaporeans. Thank you for your assistance.Do you have a flair for writing? Volunteer with us. Email us your full name and contact details to theonlinecitizen@gmail.com
rest in peace mr jb jeyarathnam.without u singapore politic is BORING
I still can remember, till todate, that president nathan did not pay respect at his wake. It leaves me wondering what was he afraid of?
Hope his reincarnation will be in Singapore to fight for the rights of the lower strata of society.
Unlike LKY who wants to come back from the grave to haunt Singaporeans.
Few knew or understood the personal sacrifices you made in fighting for the rights of the people but many will remember the man who abused the institutions of government to destroy you in a cowardly and unjust manner. But my dear JBJ, it’s better to be remembered and loved by a few, than to be a man hated by many. You will always be my hero. I am making sure the future generation never forgets you or Singapore’s untold history. In my library stand all the books you have written and I make it a point to talk about you to my son. I want to make sure your legacy lives on and that is my humble tribute to you.
this is the REAL indian hero who done so much for ALL singapoorium whether its anson serangoon or jalan besar…
he did it so good in chengsan that he was penalize by leekingyou & his cronies
the peasants voted him in the gentleman way
leekingyou REMOVED him the dirty way
so who else ere is a TRUE hero?
RIP Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam…
My salute to the fighter that he was with the guts to take on the PAP machinery who fought what he believed was taken away from us, our rights as citizens of Singapore.
The son is now doing what the father wanted to complete
Ya he had left an indelible mark on Singapore’s opposition politics.
Hopefully, his son Kenneth will carry on his legacy.
Long live JB!
JB have a special place in Singapore history, his achievement and commitment will forever affect the future generation.
For one his is not a team player, this is one criteria that failed him badly. Hope his sons does not inherit his combative style.
U are the Guy who there to stand u while we all sit back and watch, but guess what, we have all wake up now and i hope one day we can make u proud.
You were a braveman. You fought with a lionheart. You fear no evil and you stood your ground knowing the odds were against you. Despite many setbacks, you never gave up and you never say die. You fought for righteousness and justice. Your work has not been in vain. Many have now awakened to your cause and many will be ready to take the path you have chosen. I salute you JBJ for you have a special place in our lives.
Lion of a Man !!
uafraid ,unwavwering ,uncowed
fiesty fighter.
No One come close to JBJ.
todays docile , demure opposition
should take a leaf from this gentleman
God Bless his Soul !
In his day there was no Email
No coverage in the mainstream controlled media that we have(till Now).
they demonised him so that ignorant people can say he no team player , he this and he that.
JBJ was ahead of his time
he took them on singlehandedly…
thats why we still remember him as a legend.
for the (M.M) multi- millionaires and inepts who run this country like a personal moneymaking buisness….
history will tell how hated you are
by so many singaporeans…after you are gone.
JBJ was a true fighter !!1
lky was having chest infection or so and he can’t attend the death ceremony of Balaji Sadasivan. i thought lky says. if singaporeans need me or if in anyway singapore is going down hill he will rise from his grave to for us. but the last of balaji sadasivan life that he had serve singapore and to his last day on earth and mm lee just by having chest infection couldn’t make it to pay tribute to his fellow white man? and why did SGH denied to comment anything about lky situation in hospital if he is critical stage or how is he? or is this another wayang that he sit in the hospital off from public eyes reading novel in his posh hospital high class super deluxe room?where were his word of rise from the grave? if he can’t even pay a tribute would he even rise from the grave for us singapore? all the above is just a curiosity and one would wonder if this is what it seems to be.
for lky to get well or not. it is nothing to do with our prayers for him but it is in the hand of god on what shall he deserve. good or bad god knows. we are mere helpless singaporeans that we need to pray for our life ever each day for survival and our own sickness. do we stand a chance in a deluxe hospital room? do we even stand a chance in the ( C ) ward? god knows
JBJ, THE REAL LION OF SINGAPORE, YOU ARE NOT DEAD, HEROES NEVER DIE, YOU LIVE IN OUR HEARTS AND WILL LIVE THROUGH US. THANKS FOR INSPIRING US, GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR WIFE.
unlike JBJ who stood by us and talk to us singaporeans even his health was not in good and in favor to struggle to reach us and deliver the message. lky just with a chest infection is in hospital who SGH denied comments, so is he really in hospital?if yes why not even a single interview?why not even in a short talk over the media? why this close door reason?is he really in hospital or where is he? and lky never reach to singaporeans even in a short video clip to say how he is and what he want to deliver to singaporeans if should anything happen. did he even pay a tribute to balaji sadasivan on his death? i thought this leeky man said he will rise from the grave if anyone need him? that he care for everyone?
the true leader is JBJ and lky has no place even closer to JBJ resting place.
for lky health?? let god decide what he deserve!
for JBJ our prayer for him is always strong and we love him so much. he is our great father to all singaporeans.
for LKY :let the god decide what to do with this man heatlth and chest infection. infact the heart of this man already been infected by many dirty pest of greed and what prayer he need or derserve, that is for god to decide. we should not waste our time praying for him.
JBJ as we remember you affectionately, sir, you are in God’s company I know. For you have lived the faith, fought for justice and equality for the layman, and more importantly, for truth.
Your fight will not be in vain. The people of Singapore, the true blue natives of this beloved country, will do the needful when the next GE comes. We will do what you had asked us to do all those years, but which some never did.
We now see the tyranny and treachery of your adversaries and will exercise our wisdom and right of vote.
Thank you sir for you have instilled in us the fervour of freedom and truth.
May God Bless Your Soul JBJ. I salute your courage. May God give courage to Kenneth to continue your legacy. My prayers are with you Kenneth.
History is on the side of JBJ. He had done nothing wrong but was put down by a dictator that many had come to hate. Imprisonment of political opponents or anyone without trial is an unforgivable and serious offence and LKY will have to face the consequences of such despicable acts.
JBJ has my highest respect. He fought a good fight and for the right values. The fight is not over. His son, Kenneth, will carry on. With God on his side, he will not lose. Singapore will be liberated. Our prayers will finally be answered. God is Great.
a true son of singapore.
may his soul rest in God’s peace.
Rest in peace JBJ. You are not forgotten. Your struggle will pay off…when the MAN goes to the happy hunting ground..then all change.
Even the lap dog ST will be grovelling then.
JBJ is indeed a true son of Singapore and left behind an eternal lesson for us…never succumb to a despot no matter what, more so from a despot who cowardly served the Japs and bragged that he will make JBJ crawl on his knees.
the lyrics from the song “My Way” best describes JBJ.
For what is a man, what has he got ?
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels,
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows,
And did it My Way !
R.I.P. JBJ
I will never forget the night JBJ first got elected into Parliament. My wife and I had heard something to that effect. We rushed to the car and turned on the radio to listen to the news.
And the first headline item was… about some non-descript thing happened somewhere else in the world.
“Oh! he didn’t win,” we thought. And then his win was reported as the SECOND news story. Even back then, our news editors (radio, in this case) had a “uniquely Singapore” sense of news judgement.
Dear Mr JBJ,
You fought a good fight,though victory was robbed of you,know that you have won our hearts.
Your passing is a great loss but we know that your legacy,spirit and passion is never lost to us.
We remember you for who you are,for what you fought for and how you wanted to shape singapore to better help us all.
We will not villify the one who put you through the pain and suffering you’ve gone through,for we know that it is through these trials that we can truely see that your heart is for singapore and its people.and we honor you for it.
Thank you Mr JBJ,though you are gone,you have never truely left us,so on every 30th september we remember you and honor you with our sincerest hearts and wishes.
May God bless your soul.
The true son of Singapore,I SALUTE YOU!
I remember a incident when a bus driver stopped JBJ from depositing his fare into the coin box many years ago.
I was awed by the respect given to JBJ by the man on the street. He was truly respected and loved by all Singaporean who understood what he stood for and what he fought so passionately All Singaporean.
He may have labelled with most hateful labels by the establishment but he would be respected, cherished, loved by All Singaporeans
Rest In Peace Dear Sir
leave a reply 30 September 2010
For one his is not a team player, this is one criteria that failed him badly.
………..
you meant our belove/belated jeyaratnam should follow the footsteps of dr balekampon and the recent deceased injuns’ steps?
and hold hands together to perform
WHO STOPPED THE RAINS from comin down perhaps?
I hope he will be remembered by future generations in history books in the years to come, when history can be re-written so that it’s no longer the PAP story.
I could vaguely remember Anson in 81 and I miss the Eunos election in 88 while studying overseas. But I will always remember the nights of 97 at Cheng San..I will never forget the cheers and respect that Mr Jeyaratnam commands at those stadiums..
I was a boy when i first heard JBJ
speak in a rally in bedok Reservoir Road.
Thousands were packed in the football size field.hundreds more spilled into the road bringing traffic to a halt.
he was interrupted numerous times.
Hawkers garlanded him, ordinary people presented banners while in midst speech.
Awe was in everyones eyes to finally meet the Lion from Anson.
it was a electrifying night.
nobody came close to him.
a wekk later the PUP man in white held a rally there.it was heard by a hundred strong.some PUPs were bused-in to make it more a crowd.
RIP Sir.
I first saw JBJ in B.Reservoir during one of the election rally whwn i was a teenager.
Thousands were packed into a field the size of a football pitch.Hundreds more were overflowing onto the streets bringing traffic to a halt.
all waiting for the Lion from Anson who broke the “wayang” PAP Dominance in Parliment.
It was an elecctrifying night.
when he spoke there was thunderous applause.he had to stop midway thru his speech cos so many people went on stage to garland him.From C.E.O to taxi driver to hawkers we were all rooting for him.
Didnt matter that he spoke the “Queens English” with a crisp British accent.
we didnt care if we could not understand his ENglish.
what mattered was He was ” our Voice in Parliment!”.
The PAP had a rally a week later in the same site with MM SM in attendance.
they had probably 100 to two hundred people there with some “Supporters” Bused in from elsewhere .
the PAP was hated by the commonfolk back than as
the PAP is hated now!
Put an end to their Arrogance And their so called “mandate” and Moral Right to govern this state.
Cause and Effect.
The law of the universe.
Does Karma Exist?
The dates sends a chill down my spine.
I am converted.
nirvana!
Mr JBJ God bless and His angels are with you always. I hope you are hearing me cause many have asked me about you. We shared good times at the Speakers Corner for almost 6 years. I will remember your avice to this simple man. I spoke on the basics, Housing, Education and Health.You asked me which Party I belonged to, Sir just like the old days I am not a politician and all I say is what I go through from ground zero. Let the smart guys do what they think is right.Hope Singapore will have the rights tht you were fighting for. It is just the basics and I understand that. Your advice to me was,” Do not look at society with a narrow mind accept all views and work around it to ensure all human beings are happy and contented. I will remember that.
Peace N Love
Dear mr jb jeyarathnam you would be always be remembered for your courage and fighting spirit till your end. Your belief and fight for a better Singapore at the expense of your wealth & health without being paid millions show true love for Singapore. Let us pray that your spirit would be alive and bring real domocracy to Singapore soon.
RIP, Sir. Your followers will one day help realise your dreams.
You are the Visionary.
Success will come in the future.
I am lucky to be in the company of Mr.JBJ. Just the two of us.May sound strange to many. We spent time at Farrer Park, Orchard Road, Speaker’s Corner and at a coffee shop in Race Course Road. The talks were never on who is good or who is bad.It was all about basics. Health, Education and Housing and last but not least Human Rights.The words that I still hold dear were,” Son, I believe in myself and the things that I do. Do the right things and do it for the good of all”. Mr. JBJ was never pruod and it was easy to get along with this wonderful gentleman. I will remember the basics and I will remember the coffee we had. It still taste sweet. God Bless you Mr JBJ. RIP
Peace N Love
Why isnt Sep 30 a celebrated date by civil society groups for electoral reforms? You just need a registered body, panel of speakers and collect donations towards the talk. Lets think of something tangible to celebrate JBJ’s life. Lets rally around this date for change.
Compare to our beloved Mr JBJ,this old fox doessn’t stand anywhere.JB selfless mission for the freedom and democracy of common folks has made him a perpetual hero in our memory together with other selfless heroes like,Mr Chia Tai Poh,Lim chin Siong,Dr Lim Hock Siew,Poh Soo Kai,Francis seow,Tang Liang Hong and several others.JB had made a start in making some inroads into the Papies domain and we must not let this spirit of JBJ fritter away due to the Papies manipulations and underhand tactics.Time is up for a change and together we true blue S’poreans can make a very Big difference to the Papies.
@ Martian. Actually last year we suggested declaring Jan 05th, my father’s birthday, as JBJ day and a non partisan event was held at Speakers Corner. Next year we will do the same and every year.
I hope TOC can put up details of this event here so that people who are interested like me can attend it. JBJ is man/Lion worth remembering.
@kenneth,
your dad did good by the people of singapore.
i saw him selling books at tanjong pagar during lunch hours at some days.and i recognized him straight away.this man tried to stand up for sgreans,he tried to make sgp a better place for us all sgreans,though i was a young boy when he won anson’s by-election to understand what politics is,i was able to read all about your dad’s work through independent medias,i knew this man is someone whom we can look to for a voice in this repressive country,to depend on to help us progress as a country.
your dad had my respect even though he didn’t do anything for me directly,but he earned my respect nonethless for the work he tried to do for the greater good.far more than lky could ever do.
when i heard the news that your dad was finally discharged from bankurpcy,i knew that if he ever contested in my ward,my vote will surely go to him.there was no doubt about it.
sadly,that didn’t come to be when news of your father’s untimely demise came at a time where we needed a true voice of sgrean in parliament.
if you, KJ,is anything like your father,who is willing to give everything for us,know that you have my vote,know that through the work you do,you will also have my respect and support.
i may not have the courage to do the things you are doing now,but i know i have the courage to vote for you.
if you contest in my ward,know that my vote is already yours.
Jan 5 is a non-partisan day fine. And non partisan—ers should celebrate that day.
I am however partisan, a word I understand to mean to take a position on something–in this case human rights, peace and democracy.
So my optional date is Sep 30. I dont have a crowd though……
I respected JBJ even though I think his socialism of the Bevan era is outdated but it is at least informed by a sense of justice especially for the poor. He was a poor speaker but he spoke his truth with conviction; he was a “conviction politician”, a man of decency who was capable of great sacrifices, something rare in today’s world of politics. He also brought up his two children after the death of his wife to be upright and useful citizens; both distinguished themselves and honoured their parents by obtaining a double First at Cambridge.
As a decent man, JBJ would be disappointed at some of the postings to this website even if they emanate from from his admirers.In honour of his memory, we should argue our case passionately without resorting to foul language and name-calling while maintaining a respect for the truth.
Pretty sure JBJ would not be disappointed…saying the things one truly feels and not the words of one who kneels.
JBJ was far more human than one despot and he would understand it is natural for humans to have emotions and differ in the way they express themselves and I believe he would spare us the lecture.
rest in peace JBJ.
Your courage commands the respect of every Singaporean, regardless of their political directions.
Your life inspires Singaporeans that success and achievements never come easy, and sacrifice is inevitable.
Your words reminds citizens that a nation is not just about infra-structures and easy money.
Your voice echos in the walls of the parliament for the better life of the under-previleged population.
Your name is a legacy and will be engraved in the minds of Singaporeans for generations to come.
Your presence will be missed by many lifes whom you have touched.
R.I.P. the true Lion of Singapore – Mr. Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rNYepYz14A
The above link connects you to JBJ’s u-tube.
Bless You JBJ And We All Know You Are Having A Great Time With The LORD In Heaven, Sir ! Please Do Not Forget To Quench Our Thirst !