J.B. Jeyaretnam died of a heart attack at a Singapore hospital. To me he was a true Singapore patriot and hero. Read more from this BBC report:
Singapore opposition leader dies
Veteran Singapore politician JB Jeyaretnam has died of heart failure in a Singapore hospital, aged 82.
He was the first to break a government monopoly on power in Singapore when he won a seat in parliament in 1981.
He had been forced into bankruptcy over defamation cases won by the government but was planning a new run for office.
Dubbed the Grand Old Man of opposition politics, analysts said Mr Jeyaretnam was a thorn in the side of Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan-yew.
Born in 1926 in Jaffna, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Mr Jeyaretnam trained as a lawyer in Britain before making his home in Singapore.
Political injustices
He served as an MP from 1981 to 1986 and from 1997 to 2001.
His first victory, as standard bearer for the Workers’ Party, came when he defeated the People’s Action Party (PAP) of founding prime minister of independent Singapore Mr Lee.
He was returned to parliament in 1984 but in 1986 was found guilty of making a false declaration of his party’s accounts and fined a sum which made him liable to expulsion from the legislature.
He was disqualified from sitting in parliament until 1991, and disbarred from legal practice.
The Privy Council in Britain ruled in 1988 that he had been wrongly disbarred in “a grievous injustice”.
Mr Lee “appeared determined to drive him from political life” wrote Professor Michael Leifer in his Dictionary of the Modern Politics of Southeast Asia.
Not until 1997 did Mr Jeyaretnam try again; he re-entered parliament as a non-constituency member without voting rights.
Just over a year later he was again brought to court, on the charge of having defamed then prime minister Goh Chok-tong and ten other senior members of the PAP.
Although the court found in favour of the government it awarded damages at only one-tenth of the amount possible but on appeal, damages were increased and full costs imposed on Mr Jeyaretnam.
By May 2000, he was declared bankrupt for failing to keep up payments in another libel case.
He left the Workers’ Party in 2001, and was discharged from bankruptcy in 2007.
Re-election plans
This year he helped form the Reform Party to challenge the 40-year rule of Singapore by the PAP, saying Singapore had been “enslaved” by its rulers.
He said in April he planned to run in the next parliament election, due by 2011.
His death came just days before he was to appear in the High Court to seek an order that a by-election be held for a seat that is currently vacant, his family told AFP news agency.
GK Pamela, another of his relatives, said Mr Jeyaretnam hoped he would be propelled back into parliament.
“That was his wish,” she told AFP in tears. “Such a good man. Why did God take him?”
The opposition has long been marginalised in Singapore, where it complains of limited access to the pro-government mainstream media and restrictions on public assemblies.
The People’s Action Party, which has ruled Singapore since independence from Malaysia in 1965, holds 82 out of 84 elected seats in Parliament.
The Straits Times website described Mr Jeyaretnam as “pugnacious”, an “old warhorse” and “irrelevant”.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/7643379.stm
I hold a different opinion from the Straits Times, and think he was passionate for the cause, an accomplished tenacious pioneer, a resilient voice in the wilderness, and a beacon of undying hope and courage.
May he rest from his labour and enjoy eternal bliss.
There are things I like in both the Republican and Democratic party. I resonate with the social conservatism of the Republican party: their pro-life stand, their promotion of family values, and public morality; though I do not like their supply-side economics which favor the rich, and does not really “trickle down” to the poor. I like the Democrats for the way they seek ways to level the playing field, in opportunities, in health and education, in welfare for workers and the poor. I think the economy was doing better under Clinton than under the Bushes. There are Christian values that I admire in both parties and wish that there is a third party that incorporates the best of these, but can a new party survive in this jungle of giants.
I am going out on a limb here because this is not my country: Obama or McCain? Since Americans advocate freedom of expression, I’ll share my five cents worth. For me, if I were an American, I’d vote for the Obama ticket. Why so? Firstly, eight years of supply side economics have not brought about the trickle down effect promised (though I have to acknowledge the free trade agreement signed with Singapore could only be possible under the Republicans). When promises are not kept, its time to look to others. Secondly, under the Republicans, America stinks to most of the world, with an arrogance personified in the President himself. Americans deserve to be appreciated and honored all over the world but it takes a wise, courageous and compassionate government to reverse the tarnish of America’s good name. I think there is a higher chance Obama can deliver that. Thirdly, the entrenching of pro-life and pro-family values in the last eight years is not going to collapse overnight with the Democrats in power. In fact, it may allow time for a development of the neglected area of fair access to health and education for all, and welfare for the poor. Fourthly, the Democrats’ team look stronger to me in terms of ability to govern with good judgment. Fifthly, Americans can personify what they preach by electing their first Afro American President. Dr Martin Luther King’s bones will rattle in a dance of joy when this historic event takes place.
“Everything rises and falls with leadership” is a mantra some of us are familiar with. But what kind of leadership? In the past few months I have reflected on this simply because of news and events in the religious, financial, and political realms. From news of Paul Cain, Mike Gugliemucci, and Todd Bentley to the corruption of former president of Taiwan, and the turmoil in Malaysia, and the fall of big financial institutions like AIG and Lehman Brothers. These are all led by very capable, visionary, well connected, and obviously gifted leaders. I mean the financial muscle of the financial giants meant they could hire the best brains and talent available, even better than those in politics, and perhaps even industry.
However the world economic plight we have all landed in is the fruit of the flawed leadership of these talented, bottom-line focused, capable leaders. It goes to show leadership does rise and fall again when you have leaders with ability but no integrity. Together with these leaders we have worshipped the bottom line of maximum profits and allowed greed and fear unfettered reign in the marketplace. Again we have underrated integrity, character, righteousness, and good motivation and will have to pay a steep price for our dementia.
The wisdom of the Bible could have helped everyone but who would listen? We prefer the latest research from Wharton business school to the ancient priority given to good character. St Paul listed the qualities to look for in a leader, and it contained mainly character qualities, with only two abilities:”able to teach” and “able to manage his family”. Most of the other qualities are character based like temperate, honorable, hospitable, not hot-tempered, nor out to make money, kind, peaceable, sensible, mature, repected by others. Absolutes and business ethics need to make a big and permanent comeback to business and the world of finance. After Enron and Arthur Anderson, topics like “leadership by character” and “business ethics” made a popular but ephemeral appearance in the marketing of many business schools and the conference circuit, only to disappear underground into dark cavernous blackholes.
All this does point to a great challenge for the church today: how more Christians can assume positions of leadership in such places and be salt and light in these dark places where our Christian values and convictions will stand out and be most needed. I am sure there are Christians up to the challenge of applying God’s grace, wisdom and ways in the world of politics and finances. I am sure there are young people who are willing to answer this call of God.
Just the park alone is about the size of Singapore. The sights were spectacular, stunning, unforgettable and so were the sounds. This trek was a feast. Ten of us had a delightful and healthy holiday in a trip planned early in the year to take advantage of AirAsia’s fierce fares. For about S$500 for the whole trip, it was a steal. We flew from Senai airport and stayed overnight in sleepy oil town Miri. Then we caught a MAS Fokker propellor plane and reached Mulu National Park, Sarawak, in 30 minutes. The alternative was upriver on motor boats for an unthinkable 10 hours. The park hq had adequate, satisfactory accomodations and sedap Malaysian food. One of the few highlights for many of us was adventure caving. Park guides accompanied us and equipped with park supplied helmets and lights we made our way into the unlit, dark Lagangs Cave.
We trekked on wooden planks for about less than an hour and reached the entrance of the cave. When we entered, we caught sight of stalactites (’c’ for from the ceiling) and stalagmites(’g’ on the ground) as we walked by with our lights on, and as we got used to the darkness. It was wet and muddy in some places and we used our hands too, and scrambled over boulders, and squeezed and contorted through crevices and gaps on several occasions, but for the most part it was plain walking in a cool cave instead of a humid rainforest. It dripped here and there and there was a stream running throughout the cave.
There were several creatures of the dark in the cave and we spotted or heard swiftlets, bats, spiders, white river crabs and a snake (click on thumbnails for pop-ups). There were no mosquitoes! The bats ensured that.
It took about an hour or more through the cave and when it ended we felt good because our fears of the mystery that the dark world held, and our ideas of what caving required of us, were unfounded. Our fears were imagined and they evaporated as we refused to cave in to fear, and just do it a step at a time with a trustworthy guide.
One of the great highlights of my recent vacation with my trekkie friends was to witness and video the incredible bat exodus from the Deer Cave in the Mulu National Park, in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. It was a stunning and spectacular sight to behold. Creation sings his praises and stills our complaining voices with His great wonders! Let all that have breath praise the Lord!
Singapore has these lovely little parks that many go for their morning exercises and fresh air. But this particular one in Bukit Batok is an emerald gem of a park for quiet prayer and meditation. In the afternoon its too balmy but in the morning its just nice, especially after nine, when there are less joggers around.
There are many stone and wooden benches and some are more private but most are along bitumen paths that when sunlit by early morn looks like paths to the beautiful beyond.
I used to live five minutes away at Bukit Batok East Ave 4 and this was my favourite grove. As I sat there in quiet this morning, I was struck that this grove of peace was alive with a community of birds and squirrels, and the beautiful bird calls were captivating to say the least. Surprisingly, the liveliness now was more than it had been several years before.
Sadly, the car park was not free of charge, so if you want to pray unhurriedly, park without anxiety at the beautiful St Mary of the Angels, the most outstanding church building during my lifetime, in my opinion. If the park got too warm or it rained, you could use the charming chapel there.
Taoism is in a depressed state. And it should be because while Buddhism is in revival and growing strong, it is in decline, and there are no signs to indicate that the blood flow can be stopped.
“Seven in 10 here considered themselves Taoist nearly 90 years ago, but recent census figures have charted their declining “share” - from 30% of the population in 1980 to 22.4% in 1990 to 8.5% in 2000.
Christianity, on the other hand, has grown its flock to 14.6 percent of the people here in 2000, up from just 5.2% in the 1920s to 10.1% in 1980 and 12.7% in 1990.
With most of the other religions holding steady, this is where the migration seems to have been. “
“The Straits Times survey, which polled 1,000 people aged above 15 and representative of the population, found that 20% of adults here abandon the religion they were born into before the age 30.” (ST Aug 9 )
Why is there this leakage? One reason is language. As more are educated in English, they become more at home with Christianity than the dialect speaking associated with Taoism . Christianity is also deemed more logical and meaningful compared to what seem to be regarded by many young people as bordering on irrational or superstitious. Christianity, especially the “megachurch” variety are also better at appealing to the young with their effective marketing and their use of popular culture as a bridge for them to move over from Tao to Christ.
I wonder if it is the same in Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong?
I learned something new today: September 16 is Malaysia Day, the day that Sarawak and Sabah joined the Malaysian federation in 1963. Now looking at the mess (some would say healthy democratic mess), I wonder if anybody in Sarawak and Sabah are wishing they had never joined the federation. About 45 years have passed and what does the report book show?
I was in Brunei last year doing a church youth camp and I visited a museum there and saw that once upon a time the whole of Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah were under the Bruneian Sultanate. It really got me thinking, What if? What if these countries had not joined the federation and separated by sea, they developed on their own as a Borneo federation, would they be better off today?
Hmmm….just wandering ideas in the corridors of a mind more ready for vacation in Sarawak than a debate in Singapore. I am off to Miri and Mulu. Blessings to all!
“Church pumps in $220m more” screamed the back page Money section of the Straits Time. I looked at that and said, Huh? The report says, “Rock Productions, the business arm of the new Creation Church, said in a statement yesterday that it will double its investment in the project to a staggering $500million, from the $280 million it had announced last year.” Part of the increase, about 25%, is obviously due to construction costs that have risen. The rest is for the extra 8,ooo sq m added to the original 30,000sq m under NCC. With attendance of 16,000 currently, the additional funds needed to be raised works out to about $13,700 per church member. I think the whole amount is within the ability of the church goers to fund over a ten year period. Furthermore, after it is built, the civic and cultural zone they manage may churn out profits. The land however is only leased out to Rock Productions, the business arm of NCC, for 60 years by Jurong Town Corporation.
Now compare this with what Trinity Christian Centre and what it got from its $60m or more at Trinity @ Paya Lebar. When all is built, there will be a 3,000 seater auditorium, two 500 seaters, two 300 seaters, and one multi-purpose hall in a campus with a church, hostel, bible school, social arm and two or more businesses renting space from it. Best of all: they own the land and it is freehold!
This is the sticky point for me: which is wiser stewardship? Obviously there could be different opinions about it. Missionaries and champions of the poor are too polite to shout but they are all imagining what could be done for missions and the poor with that kind of money, and wishing there are churches that would raise that kind of money for their causes. When these two ‘church splurges’ on their respective buildings are compared side by side, it makes me think about wise stewardship. Its not as easy as it looks, for it seems to be obvious that TCC has the better deal. But you have to look at impact and accessibility and other factors too. Any comments?
P.S. Blogpastor, is not a NCC basher. It may seem to be so but it is not so. I write to provoke discussions and cross frontiers of thought on issues that Christian leaders would be concerned about.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Police arrested Malaysia’s top anti-government blogger on Friday under a law allowing indefinite detention without trial in a move likely to face public reproach.
Online commentator Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin has infuriated authorities by publishing numerous claims about alleged misdeeds by government leaders on his influential Web site, Malaysia Today. The government has denounced many of Raja Petra’s accusations as lies.
Of the three persons arrested by the Malaysian authorities under the Internal Security Act, two were wordsmiths: writers (one traditional media and the other new media). The authorities must be very afraid of the powers wielded by these writers, to have risked doing something that made them vulnerable to further criticism and international ridicule.
As fellow blogger STEVEN SIM has as his byeline, “Words are more treacherous and powerful than we think - Jean-Paul Sartre”. That says it all for me. In press controlled countries, the new cry of “Merdeka!”, will come from the blogger or the blogging community. Smart politicians should take a page from Obama, and become friendlier with bloggers!
Words are a powerful force, and as the sagacious father said to Spiderman: “Son, with great power, comes great responsibility.”
J.B. Jeyaretnam died of a heart attack at a Singapore hospital. To me he was a true Singapore patriot and hero. Read more from this BBC report:
He had been forced into bankruptcy over defamation cases won by the government but was planning a new run for office.
the free trade agreement signed with Singapore could only be possible under the Republicans). When promises are not kept, its time to look to others. Secondly, under the Republicans, America stinks to most of the world, with an arrogance personified in the President himself. Americans deserve to be appreciated and honored all over the world but it takes a wise, courageous and compassionate government to reverse the tarnish of America’s good name. I think there is a higher chance Obama can deliver that. Thirdly, the entrenching of pro-life and pro-family values in the last eight years is not going to collapse overnight with the Democrats in power. In fact, it may allow time for a development of the neglected area of fair access to health and education for all, and welfare for the poor. Fourthly, the Democrats’ team look stronger to me in terms of ability to govern with good judgment. Fifthly, Americans can personify what they preach by electing their first Afro American President. Dr Martin Luther King’s bones will rattle in a dance of joy when this historic event takes place.
“Everything rises and falls with leadership” is a mantra some of us are familiar with. But what kind of leadership? In the past few months I have reflected on this simply because of news and events in the religious, financial, and political realms. From news of Paul Cain, Mike Gugliemucci, and Todd Bentley to the corruption of former president of Taiwan, and the turmoil in Malaysia, and the fall of big financial institutions like AIG and Lehman Brothers. These are all led by very capable, visionary, well connected, and obviously gifted leaders. I mean the financial muscle of the financial giants meant they could hire the best brains and talent available, even better than those in politics, and perhaps even industry.
Why is there this leakage? One reason is language. As more are educated in English, they become more at home with Christianity than the dialect speaking associated with Taoism . Christianity is also deemed more logical and meaningful compared to what seem to be regarded by many young people as bordering on irrational or superstitious. Christianity, especially the “megachurch” variety are also better at appealing to the young with their effective marketing and their use of popular culture as a bridge for them to move over from Tao to Christ.
