The colourful Jeyaretnam, who refuses to be silenced despite losing his seat in parliament last year when declared bankrupt, argued that a "lack of confidence" in the government was forcing people to lose faith in the country.

Goh's reference to "quitters" in a recent National Day speech upset many Singaporeans and has been a focal topic at public feedback forums set up by the government.

The prime minister initially said people who do not want to fight for Singapore when the chips are down "I call them quitters".

But, after wide public condemnation he later played down the remark saying it was meant to jolt young Singaporeans into realising they needed to have the country's interests at heart.

But that did not wash with the 77-year-old Jeyaretnam, who in 1981 became the first opposition MP in the Singapore parliament and who for years was the bete noire of the republic's founding prime minister and now Senior Minister (SM) Lee Kuan Yew.

"It is not Singaporeans planning to emigrate ... who should be jolted," Jeyaretnam said in a message to Goh.

"It is you and your cabinet ministers who should be jolted about the lack of confidence in the ability of your party to govern Singapore any longer."

Singapore has been ruled by the People's Action Party (PAP) since independence in 1965, with only a smattering of opposition MPs ever being elected.

Jeyaretnam told Goh that if he was not prepared to argue the point with him "you can always ask my old sparring partner SM Lee if he will debate the question with me".

Jeyaretnam was declared bankrupt last year when unable to meet debts arising from defamation suits brought against him by PAP politicians.

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