A sad day for democracy

Grand old man of Singaporean politics Jeyaretnam dies

Friends and family grieve for former opposition politician. 'He was a great man and he will be missed' says son. -The Star

Wed, Oct 01, 2008
The Star

Former Singapore opposition leader J.B. Jeyaretnam died without fulfilling his greatest dream of returning to parliament.

Jeyaretnam, 82, had faced a gargantuan struggle in taking on the Singapore government in his twilight years and had been hopeful of returning to parliament, said relatives.

'It was his life, his every breath.

'Why did God take him before he could fulfil that dream?' sobbed relative G.K. Pamela when met at Jeyaretnam's home here.

She said that Jeyaretnam had left his home in Singapore on Sunday evening for a court case the next day and said that he would be back on Thursday.

'He wanted me to make fish curry for him when he returned,' she said.

She said Jeyaretnam had been unwell, but still insisted on seeing a family of Singaporeans who spent an hour with him on Sunday, begging him to help them regain property they claimed to have lost to the Singapore government.

According to Pamela, she had repeatedly told him not to strain himself that day, but he had been resolute in wanting to help the family.

'Despite his age, he would spend three hours in prayer every day, kneeling by the foot of his bed the entire time,?' she said.

He was also devoted to the memory of his late wife, Margaret, and insisted on buying flowers to place by her photograph in the hall every Saturday.

'Last Saturday he was unwell and I offered to buy the flowers for him, but he was adamant that he should buy it for her himself,?' cried Pamela, pointing to a vase of chrysanthemums.

Her daughter, A. Kavinia, 15, said that Jeyaretnam had shown great kindness and affection to her and her mother after taking them into his home.

'He would always support and encourage me in my studies. He was supposed to come back on Thursday and check my essay on road safety,' she said.

When contacted in Singapore, Jeyaretnam's younger son, lawyer Phillip, 44, said that his father was a kind and gentle man who was very forgiving and had supported his children throughout their lives, even when they made mistakes.

'He would expect you to learn your lesson from making the mistake itself, without the need for scolding,' he shared.

Jeyaretnam's elder son, hedge fund manager Kenneth, 49, said that his father who had been staying with him at his apartment in Newton Circus, had asked him to call for an ambulance at 1.30am, but collapsed when the ambulance arrived.

'Despite the hospital's best efforts, he passed away at 2.57am.

'He was a great man and he will be missed,' he said.

I never got to shake his hand. RIP Sir. You will not be forgotten. =(