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
BBM DUT
சண்முகம் செயக்குமார்
4th Senior Minister of Singapore
In office
1 April 2009 – 20 May 2011
Serving with Goh Chok Tong (2004–2011)
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byLee Kuan Yew
Succeeded byTeo Chee Hean
Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Coordinating Minister for National Security
In office
1 September 2005 – 31 October 2010
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byTony Tan
Succeeded byWong Kan Seng
5th Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore
In office
12 August 2004 – 1 April 2009
Serving with Tony Tan (1995–2005)
Wong Kan Seng (2005–2011)
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byLee Hsien Loong
Succeeded byTeo Chee Hean
Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office
3 January 1994 – 11 August 2004
Prime MinisterGoh Chok Tong
Preceded byWong Kan Seng
Succeeded byGeorge Yeo
Minister for Law
In office
12 September 1988 – 30 April 2008
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Goh Chok Tong
Lee Hsien Loong
Preceded byE. W. Barker
Succeeded byK. Shanmugam
Minister for Home Affairs
In office
3 January 1985 – 31 December 1993
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Goh Chok Tong
Preceded byChua Sian Chin
Succeeded byWong Kan Seng
Minister for Labour
In office
1 June 1984 – 1 January 1985
Acting: 7 September 1983 – 31 May 1984
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded byE. W. Barker
Succeeded byLee Yock Suan
Member of the Singapore Parliament
for Bedok
In office
23 December 1980 – 19 April 2011
Preceded bySha'ari Tadin (PAP)
Succeeded byLim Swee Say (PAP)
ConstituencyBedok 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 BBM DUT (Tamil: சண்முகம் செயக்குமார், romanized: Caṇmukam Ceyakkumār; born 12 August 1939),[1] often known as S. Jayakumar, is a Singaporean former politician, diplomat, jurist and author who served as 5th Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore between 2004 and 2009. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bedok SMC between 1980 and 1988, the Bedok division of Bedok GRC between 1988 and 1997, and later East Coast GRC between 1997 and 2011.

Jayakumar served as Minister for Foreign Affairs between 1994 and 2004, Minister for Home Affairs between 1988 and 1994, Minister for Law between 1988 and 2008, Minister for Labour between 1984 and 1985, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security concurrently between 2009 and 2011.

He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in 2004 after Lee Hsien Loong stepped down as Deputy Prime Minister and took up the office of Prime Minister. He was serving as Deputy Prime Minister alongside Tony Tan and Wong Kan Seng.[2] In June 2020, he was appointed Pro-Chancellor of the National University of Singapore.[3]

Education[edit]

Jayakumar was educated at Raffles Institution before graduating from the University of Singapore (now the National University of Singapore) with a Bachelor of Laws with honours degree and was called to the Bar in 1964.

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

Career[edit]

Academic career[edit]

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[edit]

While teaching at NUS Faculty of Law, Jayakumar concurrently served as Singapore's 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[edit]

In 1980, Jayakumar was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Bedok constituency. He remained as the MP for the Bedok constituency after the 1988 general election but this time under the newly created Bedok GRC.

During the 1991 general election, he remained as the MP for the Bedok constituency but this time under the newly created 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 Lee Hsien Loong's Cabinet. On 1 September 2005, Jayakumar took over the role as 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Justin Corfield (2 December 2010). Historical Dictionary of Singapore. Scarecrow Press. pp. 124–. 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[edit]

  • 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[edit]

Political offices
Preceded by 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
Preceded by Minister for Foreign Affairs
1994–2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore
2004–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by 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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