We have seen our brothers across the causeway dramatically shake up Malaysian politics by bringing 5 states under opposition control.
Opposition figure JB Jeyaretnam registers his new Reform
PartyBy Channel NewsAsia Posted: 18 April 2008 1935 hrs
SINGAPORE: Opposition figure JB Jeyaretnam submitted an
application on Thursday to register the new Reform Party as a political
party.Speaking to reporters on Friday, the 82-year-old said he has
submitted 10 names - which is the minimum number required to form a political
party.He said the application would take two months to process and he
does not foresee any difficulties in getting his application approved. Mr
Jeyaretnam added he will assume the role of the Reform Party's
secretary-general.He made political history in 1981 when he became the first opposition politician elected to parliament. He was then secretary-general of the Workers' Party.
A lawyer, he was disbarred when he was declared a bankrupt in 2001 after failing to pay libel damages to members of the PAP, including former prime minister Goh Chok Tong.
He emerged from bankruptcy in May last year, after paying off S$233,255 in damages from defamation lawsuits filed by Singapore's leaders. He was also reinstated to the Bar and has resumed legal practice.
Being solvent again makes him eligible to run in elections. -
AFP/vm
4 comments:
Sometimes I wonder, is it a bad thing that less young people are interested in standing for elections?
I mean, that might be one of the reasons why JBJ has to do it at this age (and health).
Thanks for leavin a comment in my blog.
I think that the youth are disillusioned with the political system in singapore. Perhaps we all feel that to an extent.
Ranting is definately easier than actually doing something and standing for elections.
Might I ask if Seelan will be standing in the next GE? Under the SDP ticket or maybe as an independent?
I ask because young or old, we all need leaders we can connect with.
There is a certain comfort or feeling of security when lets say you are lead into the hustings with a figure such as JBJ.
But we also need people closer to our age for their energy and unbridled enthusiasm.
If people like Seelan do not step forward, how do you expect other young singaporeans to do likewise.
Seelan here, by the way. I have been asked to join some of the opposition parties before but I declined. I have not had any interest in standing for elections, perhaps not yet.
When I wonder whether its a bad thing, I do point the finger at myself too.
And as I myself have had my reservations, I definitely do not expect other young Singaporeans to step forward to join parties and stand for elections, either.
However, I do encourage friends my age to become more aware, attend socio-political events and increase their participation step by step (as I have).
Hi Seelan,
Yes, we all could do with a good dose of reality.
Attaining awareness is the first step towards mental freedom.
"If you want to talk politics you should join a party" is so PAP logic. We are all by nature political beings.
There is no need to be weary over the lack of political representation by the current generation of young people. Politics is like religion, it finds you and not the other way around. I also believe in market forces. If there is a need, someone will always come along to fill it.
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