Gerakan calls Karpal elder statesman, Samy Vellu cries over news of death
In an ultimate accolade, Gerakan, DAP’s political rival in Penang, today praised Karpal Singh as an elder statesman and a true Malaysian.
State Gerakan deputy president Datuk Dr Cheah Soon Hai said Karpal was one of the few people in the country who had left a legacy.
He said the former DAP chairman was a legend in both the political and legal arenas and a man respected by Malaysians from all walks of life.
"His whole legal and political career outshone those of his contemporaries. His stand on issues is always principled. We consider him an elder statesman. His passing is a great loss to the country.
"We hope there will be more people like him. We need people like him in a check and balance democracy," he said after paying his respects to Karpal at his home in Penang.
Recalling the first time he met Karpal as a teen in 1974, when Karpal walked into his father's medicine shop in Alor Star, Kedah, while campaigning in the general election, Dr Cheah said: "I was in Form One or Two then. Karpal was also much younger at the time but even then, we could see that he was a good man from just his looks. The man had style.”
Dr Cheah said he did not know who his father had voted for but Karpal won the seat for a term.
Karpal contested the Bandar Alor Star state seat and the Alor Star parliamentary seat that year. He won the state seat and became the first DAP rep in the state.
In the next general election, Gerakan won the seat when Karpal did not recontest it.
There were murmurs at the wake when the irrepressible Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu arrived.
The two had had some fiery exchanges in Parliament but Karpal somehow endeared himself to those he had tormented, including the former works minister.
“I cried when I heard of his tragic death,” said Samy Vellu.
"We were together in Parliament and every time he raised an issue, it was for the benefit of the people," he said.
Samy Vellu said Karpal was a leader who could be trusted, and a man who sought perfection in his work.
"He did things in perfection. In Parliament, he asked for information from my ministry and sometimes, he wanted more details. I would give it to him.
"Although he was already in his 70s, he worked like a young man," he said.
Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow said Karpal's death was shocking and paid tribute to the DAP veteran for continuing his political struggles to perfect the democratic values and principles in Malaysia despite his health and physical condition.
Karpal, 73, was killed in a car accident yesterday about 1am on the North-South Expressway near Kampar, Perak when his Toyota Alphard collided with a lorry.
Karpal’s long-time aide, Michael Cornelius Selvam Vellu, also died in the crash while his son Ramkarpal and driver escaped with minor injuries.
Since yesterday, thousands have visited his home in Penang to pay tribute to the man regarded by many as one of the finest politicians in the country. – April 18, 2014.
