S. Jayakumar

Jayakumar received his secondary education in Raffles Institution, before going on to the University of Singapore where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours). He was admitted to the Bar in 1964, and then furthered his education at Yale Law School where he received a Master of Laws degree in 1966. Upon his return to Singapore, Jayakumar took on a lecturing position in the Faculty of Law at the National University of Singapore from 1964 to 1981, assuming the position of Dean of the Faculty in 1974, which he held until 1980.[4]

Jayakumar served as Singapore's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and High Commissioner to Canada from 1971 to 1974, and was a member of Singapore's delegation to the UN Law of the Sea Conference from 1974 to 1979.

Jayakumar authored three books and 32 articles on the topics of constitutional law, international law and legal education. He was awarded the Public Service Star (BBM) in 1980.

In 1980, Jayakumar was elected a member of parliament (MP) for the constituency of Bedok. He was returned as the MP for the same constituency in 1984 as an incumbent, and as one of the three MPs in the newly created Group Representation Constituency (GRC) scheme in 1988. This was again the case, as one of the four MPs in the same GRC in the 1991 General Election. He was re-elected as one of six MPs for the East Coast GRC in the 1997 General Election. In 2006, he was re-elected in the new five-member East Coast GRC.

In 1981, Jayakumar was appointed as a Minister of State at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Law. He entered the Cabinet of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1984 as the Minister for Labour with the additional portfolios of 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 when Goh Chok Tong became Prime Minister in 1990.

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

On 12 August 2004 when it was his 65th birthday, Jayakumar was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Law in the Cabinet of the new Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong. On 1 September 2005, Jayakumar took over the role as Co-ordinating Minister for National Security from former President 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 Elections due to 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]

After retirement, he 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 is Emeritus Professor at the National University of Singapore's Faculty of Law.[11] He is also presently a consultant with Drew & Napier.[12] He is currently appointed as a pro-chancellor of the National University of Singapore for a three year term starting from 1 July 2020.[13]

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.[14] 2011 saw the launch of "Diplomacy: A Singapore Experience", written by Professor S Jayakumar.[15] The book covers his reflections on many events and episodes during his many years in public service.[15] 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.[15] 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.[16][17] 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".[18] In November 2020, former Senior Minister Jayakumar launched 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.[19]

On 4 April 2021, during the National Day Awards, Jayakumar was bestowed 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".[20] 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."[20]

•  Singapore:
  • Order of Temasek with high distinction (2020)[21][22]
•  Japan:
  • Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (2012)[23]

• 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.

• Official Biography of Prof. S. Jayakumar in the Cabinet of Singapore.