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.
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.
By Seah Chiang Nee