Today, Singapore Reform Party Secretary-General Kenneth Jeyaretnam attacked us by email.
Here is his email and our answer.
Kenneth Jeyaretnam’s email dated Oct. 2, 2011:
Hi John,
I don’t really get your personal beef with me. I am aware you and your wife feel that you suffered a miscarriage of justice and that Helen Yeo and Partners (as it was then) was responsible. However I have nothing to do with my brother’s firm which has in any case merged with Rodyk since then. Neither does my brother have anything to do with the Reform Party.
Therefore your antagonism towards me and publication of grossly libellous statements about me is puzzling, to say the least, particularly as I am standing up for democracy and freedom of expression and against all the things you hate about Singapore.
I would be happy to meet you either in London or when I am in the US to discuss any issues you have.
Regards,
Kenneth
My answer to Kenneth Jeyaretnam:
Kenneth:
I am in receipt of your email to me of Oct. 2, 2011, copied below.
Your statement, that I have made “grossly libelous statements,” with no further specification on your part, is libelous and defamatory in my regard.
You state further, “I am standing up for democracy and freedom of expression and against all the things you hate about Singapore.”
Here you defame me again.
Let me clarify—I do not hate Singapore. I have no problem with Singapore. My problem is only with a few people, who happen to be Singaporeans, because they are engaged in illegal and terrorist activities.
I had sued Helen Yeo for her personal banning of our book in the U.S. District Court.
There were two hearings at which Helen Yeo never appeared, either in person, or through counsel.
The fact that Helen Yeo and Partners merged with Rodyk & Davidson does not change in any way the fact that she has allegedly committed illegal acts in Singapore, which damaged us financially through her unofficial banning of Escape from Paradise.
We have received confirmation from Singapore’s Media Development Authority that Escape from Paradise has never been banned in Singapore.
Only after Helen Yeo had taken steps against us, did we investigate her and discover her allegedly illegal acts related to a sale of 69 Holland Road in Singapore.
On information and belief, your brother, Philip Jeyaretnam, Helen Yeo’s partner, allegedly played a part in Helen Yeo’s activities against our book.
Being an American, I am doing my patriotic duty in speaking out about the your close relationship with convicted terrorist Balraj (aka Baldev) Naidu.
Naidu, your partner and co-founder of Singapore’s Reform Party, of which you are Secretary-General, is currently serving a prison sentence in the United States for his terrorist activities.
On October 18, 2010, a Baltimore federal court jury convicted Balraj Naidu, 48, a citizen of the Republic of Singapore, for providing material support for selling U.S. weapons to a terrorist organization. Four co-conspirators pleaded guilty in the case, said the Sri Lankan embassy here. Naidu was later sentenced to 57 months, imprisonment. Naidu’s appeal of the decision was denied on May 4, 2012.
The co-conspirators – Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa, 40, of Sri Lanka; Haji Subandi, 73, and retired Indonesian Marine Corps General Erick Wotulo, 62, both Indonesians; and Haniffa Bin Osman, 59, of Singapore – all pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 57 months, 37 months, 30 months and 37 months in prison respectively.
I believe that you should not be allowed to enter the United States due to your terrorist connections.
John
I don’t know who you are but I suggest you remove this post, cos it makes you look like a complete ass. I’m no staunch supporter of KJ or the reform party but when u take a private email written to you and display it in public it should be in the public interest. How on earth has he attacked you? Any one with a basic command of english can understand that he suggested that he was attacking THE THINGS that you hate about singapore. ( I’m guessing restrictions on free speech and the usual stuff). He doesn’t seem to be saying anywhere that u hate singapore. Furthermore his statement suggests that he is impying that he shares your views on certain things. If you love or like a country does that mean that you have to love every single aspect of it? What about contradictory things? If there was any reason to suspect that KJ had involvements or knowledge about Naidu’s connection to the Tamil rebels I’m sure he would have been summoned by the ISD or the American authorities by now but he hasn’t. Do you know something the intelligence agencies don’t?
Of course you know who I am, as is obvious from your comment. Had Kenneth Jeyaretnam sent me a private email, I would have kept it in confidence. However, he sent the email to other parties – so there is nothing private about it.
Here is an excerpt of an email that Kenneth Jeyaretnam sent to a third party, and not to me:
By this statement, he links his brother, Philip Jeyaretnam, in with his political party and the terrorist, Naidu. Both Jeyaretnam boys are out to protect Naidu.
Kenneth Jeyaretnam has also attacked me directly. Can you read? He states I am making libelous statements – which is an attack.
Like parroting Jeyaretnam, you mention, incorrectly, the things I hate about Singapore. Again, read what I have written. There is nothing that I hate about Singapore. I said, “My problem is only with a few people, who happen to be Singaporeans, because they are engaged in illegal and terrorist activities.”
There are plenty of reasons to suspect both Kenneth Jeyaretnam, Philip Jeyaretnam and their father for involvement with terrorists. Naidu was their close friend and partner. Even after Naidu was exposed, Kenneth Jeyaretnam came to Naidu’s defense.
By the insulting, emotional and irrational tone of your comment, one could only conclude that you are one of Kenneth Jeyaretnam’s people.
Thank goodness that the U.S. now kills terrorists, even if they be U.S. citizens.
I am sure that the U.S, is aware of the activities of Kenneth and Philip Jeyaretnam (and Singaporean Eric Pala).
KJ is on the watchlist by PAP. Glad to read this interesting revelation. KJ is a public figure, so what he writes and says is for the people to read.
KJ’s Reform Party is not doing well at all in Singapore. He sounds desperate. John, don’t worry, Singapore’s ISD is watching him closely! We’re not for any terrorist fellows.
Both PJ and KJ are not ideal citizens here in Singapore. After the disclosures of the sale of the singapore property??? and Baldev Naidu friend, i can assure you that they are not welcomed!
particularly as I am standing up for democracy and freedom of expression. This sentence I feel like throwing out.KJ can U elborate on April 26 2009, U N a group of crook came to siege RP.Where is your minute of vote of no confidence.Claim that RP belong to your father. Ah-Ah-Ah.Frankly your Father did not form this Party.The Party was form for your father. Monitoring your father movement.U’re an idiot to siege this Party.U’re carrying a death baby.After Naidu complete his jail term in USA,(Another 12 month to go). In Singpore Naidu file will re-open again with your invitation.
Hi, may I know whether you can show your readers the proof to:
1) there is a “convicted terrorist Balraj (aka Baldev) Naidu” (e.g. court judgment document about a Singaporean by this name had been convicted for terrorism, or a newspaper report)
2) this convict was a co-founder of Singapore’s Reform Party.
Strange (and interesting) that you should ask for us to prove our facts. However, here goes.
First off, I won’t let you waste my time with the second question. In Singapore, it is common knowledge that Balldev Naidu (as the Reform Party calls him) was co-founder. You can consult Google – it’s all over the place, and well-documented.
To fill in an important detail, we have placed a photo of Naidu’s partner, Singaporean terrorist Haniffa bin Osman, who is also serving time in a U. S. prison.
As for Naidu’s it is also on the Internet – here, and printed, below – read on.
Naidu had a co-conspirator, Singaporean Haniffa bin Osman, who is also serving his sentence in a U.S. prison.
In July 2006, Singaporean Haniffa Bin Osman, met with undercover agents in Baltimore to inspect some of the weapons. Osman told agents that the arms requested were for the Tamil Tigers, and Osman knew the delivery would be illegal, according to court papers. Osman told agents that a subsequent order could be worth as much as $15 million, prosecutors said.
So Baldev Naidu and Haniffa Bin Osman had plenty of cash backing them. It would be interesting to trace the source of those funds. There is no evidence that Singapore has done so – too embarrassing?
On July 28, 2006, Osman test-fired several of the weapons, including machine guns, at a Harford County police range, according to the indictment.
Osman had no idea that he was dealing with U.S. officials.
jbj-kj+baldev naidu = reform party