S. Jayakumar (Singaporean politician)

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For Indian politician, see S. Jayakumar (Indian politician).
In this Indian name, the name Shunmugam is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Jayakumar.
S. Jayakumar
Bedok SMC
(1980–1988)
Bedok GRC
(1988–1997)
East Coast GRC

(1997–2011)
Personal details
Born
Shunmugam Jayakumar

(1939-08-12) 12 August 1939 (age 84)
Singapore, Straits Settlements
Political partyPeople's Action Party
SpouseLalitha Rajahram
Children3
Alma materNational University of Singapore (LLB)
Yale University (LLM)
Profession
  • Politician
  • diplomat
  • jurist
  • author

Shunmugam Jayakumar

East Coast GRC
between 1997 and 2011.

Jayakumar served as

Coordinating Minister for National Security
concurrently between 2009 and 2011.

He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in 2004 after

Pro-Chancellor of the National University of Singapore.[3]

Education

Jayakumar was educated at

called to the Bar
in 1964.

He subsequently went on to complete a Master of Laws degree at Yale Law School in 1966.

Career

Academic career

Upon his graduation from Yale Law School, Jayakumar took on a lecturing position at the National University of Singapore's Faculty of Law between 1964 and 1981, assuming the position of Dean in 1974, which he held until 1980.[4]

Diplomatic career

While teaching at

Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Singapore's High Commissioner to Canada between 1971 and 1974. He was also a member of Singapore's delegation to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
between 1974 and 1979.

Jayakumar also authored three books and 32 articles on the topics of constitutional law, international law and legal education.

Political career

In 1980, Jayakumar was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the

Bedok GRC
.

During the

East Coast GRC. He retained his seat in 1997 general election and 2006 general election
.

In 1981, Jayakumar was appointed as

Minister of State for Home Affairs and Minister of State for Law. He first served in Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew
's Cabinet in 1984 as Minister for Labour, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Law.

Jayakumar was appointed Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Law on 2 January 1985.

In 1988, Jayakumar was appointed Minister for Law and Minister for Home Affairs. He retained these portfolios under Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

In January 1994, Jayakumar was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law.

On 12 August 2004, Jayakumar was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Law under Prime Minister

Coordinating Minister for National Security from Tony Tan to oversee counter-terrorism policies in Singapore
.

Jayakumar stepped down as Minister for Law on 30 April 2008,[5][6] and as Deputy Prime Minister on 1 April 2009.

Jayakumar was appointed a Senior Minister on 1 April 2009 before retiring from politics on 21 May 2011.[7] He decided not to contest in the 2011 general election citing health reasons. He also resigned as a permanent member of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights which he was appointed to the position on 1 July 1998.[8]

Career after politics

After his retirement from politics, Jayakumar served as Chair of the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law's Advisory Council[9] and Patron of the NUS Centre for International Law.[10] He became an emeritus professor at the NUS Faculty of Law,[11] and a consultant at Drew & Napier, one of the Big Four law firms in Singapore.[12] On 1 July 2020, he was appointed pro-chancellor of the National University of Singapore, where he served until 2023.[13]

On 4 April 2021, during the National Day Awards, Jayakumar was conferred the Order of Temasek (With High Distinction), the nation's highest civilian honour, by President Halimah Yacob for his "wide-ranging, invaluable and unique contributions to the well-being and security of Singapore".[14] In the investiture ceremony, he was praised for having "given his entire life to the service of Singapore" and the citation of his award said: "Uniquely among public servants, Prof Jayakumar brought an exceptionally keen legal mind to bear on a considerable range of issues, from national security and foreign policy to political and constitutional developments."[14]

Publications

Jayakumar has written and published several books related to his life and experiences in foreign affairs and diplomacy. In 2009, Jayakumar and Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh published the book titled Pedra Branca: The Road to the World Court, which covers the territorial dispute between Malaysia and Singapore over Pedra Branca, a small island of strategic value located near the entry point to the Straits of Malacca.[15]

In 2011, Jayakumar published a book titled Diplomacy: A Singapore Experience.[16] The book covers his reflections on many events and episodes during his many years in public service.[16] It also shared behind-the-scenes political decision making that governed Singapore's responses during important post-independence events that formed the basis of Singapore's foreign policy principles.[16]

In 2015, he published a memoir titled Be at the Table or Be on the Menu: A Singapore Memoir, which covers his early life and his career as a law academic and dean before he entered politics.[17][18]

In 2019, Jayakumar, Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh and Deputy Attorney-General Lionel Lee launched the book titled "Pedra Branca: Story Of The Unheard Cases", which recounts how Singapore's team prepared in the dispute with Malaysia over the sovereignty of Pedra Branca and also serves as a continuation to Pedra Branca: The Road to the World Court.[19]

In November 2020, Jayakumar introduced his book titled Governing: A Singapore Perspective, which covers his views and experiences of Singapore's governance, such as how he viewed the Lee family dispute over their 38 Oxley Road home, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's retirement plan if the COVID-19 crisis has not improved.[20]

Honours

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-8108-7387-2. Archived
    from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Senior Minister S. Jayakumar to retire". Archived from the original on 26 March 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  3. ^ "Former DPM S. Jayakumar appointed NUS pro-chancellor". 18 June 2020. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  4. ^ "History and Milestones". Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  5. ^ "PM Lee unveils cabinet changes". 29 March 2008. Archived from the original on 31 March 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2007.
  6. ^ "Shanmugam gets Law in new Cabinet line-up". 30 March 2008. Archived from the original on 3 April 2008. Retrieved 30 March 2007.
  7. ^ Chang, Rachel. "Former Senior Minister S Jayakumar launches memoir". Straits Times. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  8. ^ "S. Jayakumar". Singapore Government Agency. Singapore Infopedia. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  9. ^ "NUS Law Advisors". Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  10. ^ NUS Centre for International Law Patrons.
  11. ^ "S JAYAKUMAR". NUS Law. National University of Singapore. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  12. ^ Jayakumar, S. "Professor". Drew & Napier LLC. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  13. ^ Ang, Jolene (18 June 2020). "Former DPM S. Jayakumar appointed NUS pro-chancellor". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  14. ^ a b Yuen-C, Tham (4 April 2021). "Former senior minister S. Jayakumar heads list of 500 receiving National Day honours". The Straits Times. The Straits Times. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Pedra Branca: The Road to the World Court". National University of Singapore (NUS). National University of Singapore (NUS). 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  16. ^ a b c "Straits Times Press launches Professor S Jayakumar's book, "Diplomacy – A Singapore Experience"". SPH. Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  17. ^ Abdul Khamid, Hetty Musfirah. "S Jayakumar's book a reminder of Singapore's position in the world: PM Lee". CNA. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  18. ^ Chang, Rachel (6 May 2015). "Former Senior Minister S Jayakumar launches memoir". The Straits Times. The Straits Times. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  19. ^ Teo, Gwyneth (30 January 2019). "Book on 'unheard cases' of Pedra Branca challenge launched". CNA. CNA. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  20. ^ Ho, Grace (6 November 2020). "Former senior minister Jayakumar launches book on governance in Singapore". The Straits Times. The Straits Times. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Former DPM S Jayakumar heads list of National Day Award recipients". CNA. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  22. ^ Yuen-C, Tham (9 August 2020). "Nation's top civilian honour for Jayakumar". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  23. ^ "Japan to confer award on former DPM Jayakumar". ChannelNewsAsia. Archived from the original on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.

Bibliography

  • Jayakumar, S. (2003), The water issue: statement by Singapore Foreign Minister Prof S Jayakumar in Parliament, 25 Jan 2003, Singapore: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(Contains official documents, press statements and speeches, correspondence between ministers of Singapore and Malaysia and text of the water agreements)
  • Jayakumar, S. (c. 1996), The Southeast Asian drama: evolution and future challenges : Georgetown University inaugural distinguished lecture on Southeast Asia, Washington DC, 22 April 1996, Singapore(?): Ministry of Foreign Affairs(?)
  • Jayakumar, S.; chairman ..., eds. (1984). People's Action Party 1954–1984 : Petir 30th anniversary issue. Singapore: Central Executive Committee, People's Action Party.
  • Jayakumar, S., ed. (1982), Our heritage and beyond : a collection of essays on Singapore, its past, present and future, Singapore: Singapore National Trades Union Congress
  • Jayakumar, S.; Chin, Tet Yung (1981), Report on the development of the Faculty of Law, Singapore: National University of Singapore
  • Jayakumar, S. (1976). Constitutional law cases from Malaysia and Singapore. Singapore: Malayan Law Journal.
  • Jayakumar, S. (1976). Constitutional law, with documentary materials. Singapore: Malaya Law Review, Faculty of Law, University of Singapore.
  • Jayakumar, S. (1974). Public international law cases from Malaysia and Singapore. Singapore: Singapore University Press.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
E W Barker
Minister for Labour

1983–1985
(Acting: 1983–1984) 		Succeeded byas Acting Minister for Labour
Preceded by
Minister for Home Affairs

1985–1993 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Minister for Law

1988–2008 		Succeeded by
K Shanmugam
Preceded by
Minister for Foreign Affairs

1994–2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore
2004–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Tony Tan
Co-ordinating Minister for National Security

2005–2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Senior Minister of Singapore
2009–2011
Served alongside: Goh Chok Tong 		Vacant
Title next held by
Teo Chee Hean
Tharman Shanmugaratnam
2019
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