JBJ Up the Political Ante
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Jeyaretnam
Up the political ante
It’s his sheer presence, rather than his new party, that is stirring up opposition hopes for the next election - if he stands.By Seah Chiang Nee, littlespeck.com
Apr 22, 2008
Surprisingly, the return of Singapore’s veteran opposition figure has evoked less online interest than the international press.
But it has not devalued the importance of the re-emergence of Mr. JB Jeyaretnam, one of the most colourful and articulate politicians here at a time when the political temperature is rising.
It has boosted the opposition’s hope of making a bigger inroad in the 2011 general election, provided he himself contests in it.
But the registration of his new Justice Party has not been greeted enthusiastically in the opposition-sympathetic Internet for a number of reasons.
For one thing, many bloggers are too young to know much about the 82-year-old opposition figure or his past record, including his fierce battles with Mr. Lee Kuan Yew.
With the mainstream media rarely mentioning him for so many years – except for his troubles - young Singaporeans have grown up ill informed of JBJ’s colourful history.
There are other reasons for the lukewarm response, including the following: -
- His proposed Reform Party is viewed as too dependent on 0ne man – an 82-year-old not renowned for organisation or recruitment abilities. His reform platform doesn’t much appeal to non-English speaking masses, which are simply worried about bread-and-butter issues.
- Knowing the ways of the government, Singaporeans do not expect a quick or smooth approval of the party.
- Mr. JBJ has not said he will contest in 2011; if he doesn’t, few people believe his party will make any significant inroad on the political scene.
- The fragmented opposition needs good politicians, not another party. Merely adding one more may actually intensify the division, rather than unite them to oppose a giant.
If Mr. JBJ runs the new party the same way he did with the old Workers Party, it will not work. He is a strong debater not a natural leader who can rally people.
These are the negative factors.
The positive points of this old warrior are twofold.
First, his determination and fearless record of raising ‘sensitive’ issues publicly have earned him much respect to those who know (or even disagree with) him.
Secondly, Mr. JBJ’s tough debating skills are proven, matched only by his long-time political rival, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, and these are needed to augment the opposition role of checking the People’s Action Party’s power.
A JBJ in Parliament will be unpalatable to the PAP, which will find it hard to pitch most of its younger leaders to engage and win any toe-to-toe verbal slugging with him. They just don’t have the experience.
The Senior Minister and possibly a handful others may have the skills to match his sharp tongue.
The man’s return, however, could be a badly needed boost to the morale of the opposition when it comes to debating a growing list of pressing problems facing Singapore.
In short, the biggest impact is JBJ himself, not his Reform Party – not yet, anyway.
The proposed Reform Party will serve to provide him with a political platform, which the mainstream media can ignore only at the cost of its own credibility.
At any rate even if it blacklists him, the Internet will keep the public informed. Politics could be entering a more exciting phase.
Some Singaporeans are already relishing the prospect of a JBJ contesting in Tanjong Pagar against Mr. Lee Kuan Yew (provided both men feel up to it).
The Law of Nature will decide this.
In 2011 Lee will be 87 years old and JBJ, 85, which means that TIME is the common enemy of both fighters.if he actually gets into the parliament the younger mp will really shit in their pants!
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I hope he knows his Achille's heels. He is a good debater, he should stick to issues, and make the younger Cabinet Ministers shit in their pants.
But if he expects the PAP ministers to give chance on personal attacks, he would be sadly mistaken, again.
They will be waiting, he should know. He should, he don't have much time left for another round of defamation suits.
What does he want to attack?
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<But if he expects the PAP ministers to give chance on personal attacks, he would be sadly mistaken, again.>
i think that is probably the last thing he would expect of the pap!
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I hope Reform party can destroy PAP political hegemony.
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Though I find that alot of oppositions on our government in this forum is uncalled for and sometimes, funny and plainly for the sake of it, JBJ is one opposition I really respect along with Mr Chiam. I met JBJ many years ago at City Hall where he was selling his books. It was my Birthday that day and I was intrigued and I stop to talk to him and he talked to me for that few short minutes! I bought his book and I got him to autograph the book and he duly obliged.
Here is a man, who has fame and riches and a career but yet he gives it all for his ideals all just to aim to provide a better home for all singaporeans. Not all his actions are right but at least, he do not just TALK in a forum, he actually do something about it. He has my respect. I will always remember that pair of eyes when I talked to him, a kind man but a pair of eyes that say he will fight till he dies.
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Long live JBJ!
Die now LKY.
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You expect what - some weighty nuanced well researched treatise on Singaporean sovereignty and cultural identity etc. Not the place for that kind of article.
"I hope Reform party can destroy PAP political hegemony."
really? I just hope that JBJ doesn't get destroyed first.
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Reform party can deny pap 2/3 majority with the support of the ppl. Remember that nothing is permanent, nothing is impossible, so dont be arrogant pap... come 2011 be prepared..... Tsunami is coming........ be prepared....
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I won't rest until PAP's political hegemony is destroyed and the monopoly of the media is annihilated.
Singaporeans everywhere can be freed from PAP autocratic rule.
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Originally posted by lotus999:
<But if he expects the PAP ministers to give chance on personal attacks, he would be sadly mistaken, again.>
i think that is probably the last thing he would expect of the pap!
Lets hope he leads the Reform Party as a reformed man, and wisely attack PAP policies, and make them cringe, not attack PAP ministers and give them an opportunity to sue. As a learned gentleman, he should discredit the idea, not discredit the man.
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please lor
can all these old people go and play with their grandchildren or something
dun play politics liao lah -
Politics is for grandchildren.
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- His proposed Reform Party is viewed as too dependent on 0ne man – an 82-year-old not renowned for organisation or recruitment abilities. His reform platform doesn’t much appeal to non-English speaking masses, which are simply worried about bread-and-butter issues.
chinese speaking masses onli care about bread and butter meh?
spiak ang moh one so high class meh?
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chinese speaking masses onli care about bread and butter meh?
spiak ang moh one so high class meh?
More drivel.
Again, this is linked with Lee Kuan Yew's policies.
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vote in JBJ, vote out wong can hide
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Heroes dont die, they live forever. JBJ is the last boy scout.
What doesnt kill him just made him stronger.
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HEre is a man of honour who "died" not like a coward but as a hero. he rises up again like the same hero he is
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hello forum,
what ya think, compare JBJ vs LTK who do you think will do a better job speaking up for the people , FEARLESSLY?
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LTK does a better job because at least he is in the rubber stamp Parliament what. Heck even the chio bu Eurasian NMP does a better job for the same reason.
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Originally posted by Uncle Ver SG:
LTK does a better job because at least he is in the rubber stamp Parliament what. Heck even the chio bu Eurasian NMP does a better job for the same reason.
when asked who would like to ask for wank's resign, what did he do then? -
Originally posted by balance_else_complacent:
hello forum,
what ya think, compare JBJ vs LTK who do you think will do a better job speaking up for the people , FEARLESSLY?
JBJ thinks in English, he is witty and thinks fast on his feet.
LTK thinks in Chinese, his thoughts needs to be translated into English, and therefore there is a time lapse.
He who is hesitates is lost., in a debate.
In the past years LTK as an MP did much more for his constituents, than JBJ did when he was a MP for Anson. What the point of having a fast mouth, when little is accomplished. Rhetorics is entertaining, but results is wanted.
Better to be slow with results, than to be fast and do repairs.