The following is an appeal from Dana Lam and Braema Mathi for support. They are calling on the Prime Minister and the cabinet to honour Mr Jeyaretnam.

Dear friends,

A letter has been sent to the Straits Time’s Forum page, addressed to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, drafted by Dana Lam and Braema Mathi,  to ask that the government preserve Mr JBJ’s public-spiritedness and love of the law and, requesting the following two items:

– a professorial chair in the name of Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam be created in the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore and,

– a scholarship fund in the name of Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam for graduate studies in political science and/or constitutional law and/or civil society studies.

While the letter has been sent to the press already, there is an intention to continue collecting signatures and build up momentum. It’s likely that there are many more people who want to show their support but may not have known about this initiative.

I have reproduced the letter below, and am thinking that we can submit it together, collectively, with our signatures.

So those of you who are interested, you can either choose to send this letter on individually, addressed to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet via:

Email address: [email protected]

Mail: Orchard Road Istana Singapore 238823

Fax: 63328983(PM) 67324627(SM) 67345244(MM) 68356621(General Office)

OR, you can send me your name and I/C numbers (if Singaporean), to show commitment to the signature, or just your name and perhaps an address or email address (if non-Singaporean), and in a week’s time (deadline: 8 Oct, Weds, email: [email protected].) I will send the letter with ALL the signatures collected.

You can also start off your own little groups, collect signatures and then mail out.

The letter is below.

Thank you!

OPEN LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND HIS CABINET

2 October 2008

Dear Prime Minister & Cabinet Members

By all accounts, we have lost a figure of uncommon strength and conviction in Mr JB Jeyaretnam.

No matter which side of the political fence we stand, it is undeniable that Mr JBJ, as he will be fondly remembered, has fought long and hard for what he believed was good for Singapore and, good for Singaporeans.

Mr JBJ did all he could with all he could. In staying the course, he has undoubtedly performed a public duty as a citizen of Singapore and, amply demonstrated the public spirit, the commitment to country and, the “nation before self” maxim that the government has sought to propagate.

As Singaporeans we are proud that such a man as Mr JBJ walked among us. We appreciate the sacrifices Mr JBJ has made for his beliefs in serving the people of Singapore. We are equally proud that the government, in spite of its political differences, has acknowledged the same resilience and service to nation in Mr JBJ.

Mr JBJ is an icon – an individual who stood up to serve the country and who stood tall for his beliefs and principles. As citizens of Singapore, we hope that Mr JBJ’s public spiritedness and love of the law can be preserved in the following manner:

  1. a professorial chair in the name of Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam be created in the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore and,
  2. A scholarship fund in the name of Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam for graduate studies in political science and/or constitutional law and/or civil society studies.

We also humbly ask the government to further demonstrate its commitment to public spiritedness and active citizenry by taking the lead to provide the seed fund for the above honours for others to follow.

We look forward to your encouragement as we mourn the loss of one of Singapore’s outstanding sons.

Yours in good faith,

Dana Lam Yoke Kiew

Braema Mathi

Siew Kum Hong

Au Wai Pang

Manohar P Sabnani

Teri Teo Shiwen

Constance Singam

Cheng U Wen, Lena

Lim Siew Wai, William

Benedict Jacob-Thambiah

T Sasitharan

Stephanie Chok

Heng Hiang khng

Jacqueline Tan

Serene Yap

Paul Anantharajah Tambyah

————–

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