SINGAPORE: Former opposition MP and former Secretary-General of the Workers' Party, Mr JB Jeyaretnam died early Tuesday morning due to heart failure.
He was 82.
His son Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam told Channel NewsAsia that Mr Jeyaretnam, who had a pre-existing heart condition, had complained of breathing difficulties at about 1.30am.
He was rushed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital but doctors were unable to revive him.
He passed away with his family by his side.
A lawyer, Mr Jeyaretnam was the first opposition member to win a Parliamentary seat in 15 years when he defeated the People's Action Party's Pang Kim Hin and the United People's Front's Harbans Singh in the Anson By-Election in 1981.
He left the Workers' Party in 2001, and in July this year, had launched a new party called the Reform Party.
Mr Jeyaretnam leaves behind two sons.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/379303/1/.html