Singapore's First Opposition MP Dies

Joseph Benjamin Jeyaratnam

JB Jeyaratnam

1926-2008

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JB Jeyaratnam passed away of heart failure early today at 1.30am at the age of 82. The former leader of the Workers' Party of Singapore (currently the biggest Opposition party in Singapore) was the first ever Opposition to get elected to Parliament in 1981, 15 years after Singapore's independence from the British where the People's Action Party (PAP) had ruled effectively since as a one-party state.

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In his famous victory speech, he declared to have won against the "almighty PAP" with his historic electoral gain. Subsequently in his later life he faced defamation lawsuits from PAP leaders Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong (both former Singapore Prime Ministers) which eventually brought to his bankruptcy and forced exit from politics.

JB Jeyaratnam will always be remembered as the lone figure of truth who endlessly fought for democracy in his country and for his bravery in standing up to incumbent forces.

The Keongomaniac expresses his grief and condolences to the late national leader and wishes for his memory to be the symbol of hope and resilience for the Opposition in Singapore.

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JB Jeyaratnam at Anson constituency in 1986, where PAP's hegemony in Singapore was first blemished. Also could be seen in the picture is a young Low Thia Kiang on the far left, the current Secretary-General of the Workers' Party and Opposition MP for Hougang SMC.