TheSun, 10 Oct 2008, Terence Fernandez
MY piece on the late Singapore opposition politician JB Jeyaretnam on Tuesday evoked overwhelming response from here and abroad. Many were sympathetic and full of awe of JB, like this note I received from Yeoh, a Singaporean: "I was very touched by your well researched article on JBJ."
Thomas wrote: "Wonderfully written and articulated note on Mr Jeyaretnam. I grew up in the 80s watching him debate and take on PAP in Parliament. Yes, Singapore had already commenced televised parliamentary debates."
Then there were the likes of Simon Wee who articulated:
"I fully agreed with Mr Terence Fernandez’s cynicism of the late JB Jeyaretnam’s role in Singapore politics. If we were to look back, the late JB became active in politics only after he was removed/resigned as a district judge when Lee Kuan Yew was at his peak.
"As one former PAP MP related, JB was only interested in engaging Lee Kuan Yew and no one else when he was in Parliament. It would appear he was out on a personal vendetta and his espousals of human rights and other high-sounding democratic ideals were just frills.
"Let it be said that JB was the one who advocated that tiny Singapore had no need for an armed forces as other bigger nations could easily just walk in. Of course the Malaysian Umno embraced him for that and it would be no surprise if Malaysian support was given to him for his stay in Johor Baru.
"When I heard him saying that, I quickly bought toy guns and other toy weapons for my then five-year-old son to prepare him for the army. But alas after enduring 13-hour medical surgery, my son was designated a ‘C’ recruit but given important duties in the logistics. As such his section has been always busy and staying overnight at the camp when Mas Selamat bolted. Good riddance JB."
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