GEORGE TOWN: Chants of “Karpal Singh” and “Sat Sri Akaal” (God is victorious in the Punjabi language) resounded when the coffin of prominent lawyer and politician Karpal Singh was brought into the Batu Gantung Crematorium here today.
Family members and relatives unable to contain their sorrow over the passing of the leader fondly known as the” Tiger of Jelutong” were seen sobbing uncontrollably during the cremation process which began at 2.45pm and ended at 3.10pm.
Bernama learnt Karpal Singh’s family members will scatter his ashes at sea tomorrow.
Karpal Singh Ram Singh, 74, former DAP chairman and Bukit Gelugor MP, died in a road accident at Km306.1 of the North-South Expressway near Gua Tempurung in Kampar early Thursday.
Also killed in the 1.10 am accident, involving his MPV and a lorry, was his personal assistant Michael Cornelius, who was in his 40s.
Thousands of people from all walks of life thronged the crematorium as early as 10am to bid final farewell.
The hearse bearing his coffin from Dewan Sri Pinang arrived at the crematorium at 1.30pm.
Thousands of people including state government and DAP leaders joined the funeral procession from Dewan Seri Pinang to the Batu Gantung crematorium.
The procession which started at Dewan Sri Pinang at 11.30am passed through Lebuh Farquhar, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Jalan larut, Jalan Burma, Jalan Perak, Jalan Macalister, Jalan Residensi, Jalan Utama and Jalan Scotland.
Stops were made at three places that had meant a lot to Karpal Singh during his lifetime for photography sessions namely the Penang High Court where he carried out his duties as a lawyer, the state legislative assembly building (where he first started as an elected representative)and St Xavier’s Institution (his alma mater).
Before continuing its journey to the Batu Gantung Crematorium, the hearse also paused at his office in Green Hall.
More than 10,000 people had paid their last respects to Karpal Singh at Dewan Sri Pinang from 9am to 11am. His children, Jagdeep, Gobind, Ramkarpal, Mankarpal and Sangeet Kaur solemnly stood by their father’s casket.
Karpal Singh was bestowed a funeral with state honours by the DAP-led state government. It was also attended by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.
Also present to give their last respects were Penang Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas and his wife Toh Puan Majimor Shariff, who were accompanied by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, state executive council line-up and the DAP leaders.
Lim, in his eulogy, said the state government and the people of Penang were saddened over the sudden demise of Karpal Singh and symphatised with his wife, Gurmit Kaur and members of his family.
He said the people lost a fighter who was not afraid to fight for the welfare of the needy to uphold justice.
“The charisma he possessed was very unique, it will be hard to find another person like Karpal Singh and we will fall back on him as a source of inspiration.
“Though his passing is difficult to accept and we are filled with grief, we will forever cherish him and his deeds,” said Lim.
The wake was held at Karpal Singh’s residence at 144A, Jalan Utama here. The hearse left the house at 7am today after a closed funeral service according to the Sikh religion.
Among the dignitaries who paid their last respects during the wake were Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, former Works Minister and currently Malaysia’s special envoy for infrastructure to India and South Asia S Samy Vellu and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri.
Karpal Singh became known as the ‘Tiger of Jelutong’ because he was able to win the Jelutong parliamentary seat for five consecutive terms from 1978 before losing it in the 1999 general election. In the 2004 general election, Karpal Singh bounced back by winning the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat which he held until his death.
Karpal Singh who received his Bachelor of Law from the University of Singapore in 1968 was involved in many high profile cases including the second sodomy case of Anwar.
Karpal Singh was also involved in a road accident in 2005 in Penang which caused him to be paralysed from the waist dowm and become wheelchair-bound.
Two of his sons, Jagdeep Singh Deo and Gobind Singh Deo have followed in his footsteps as lawyers and politicians. He has 11 grandchildren.
Bernama
