Karpal to be given send-off with state honours
After a lifetime of service to the country, the Penang government will acknowledge Karpal Singh's contributions by giving him a funeral with state honours.
The Penang flag will be flown at half-mast until his funeral on Sunday.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the flag would also drape Karpal's casket.
"We can't accord a state funeral as that is under the federal jurisdiction, so we can only accord him a funeral with state honours," Lim said in a brief press conference at Karpal's home in Jalan Utama this afternoon.
The public, he said, would also be able to pay their last respects to Karpal at the Dewan Sri Pinang on Sunday between 9am and 11am.
Lim said this was decided by the state executive council and consented by Karpal's family.
Karpal, the former DAP national chairman and the “Tiger of Jelutong”, died in a car accident early today on the North-South Expressway near Kampar, Perak.
He was on his way to Penang from Kuala Lumpur for a murder trial at the Penang High Court when his car collided with a lorry. He died at the scene.
His aide Michael Cornelius Selvam Vellu also died while Karpal's son Ramkarpal and driver sustained minor injuries.
Karpal’s cremation will take place at 11am on Sunday in the Batu Gantung crematorium.
His sons, Penang exco member Jagdeep Singh Deo and Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, thanked the state government for giving their father state honours.
"I'm very sure he would have been very proud to be the son of Penang and to be accorded state honours," Jagdeep said.
They also thanked the public and political leaders for their sympathy and condolences.
Karpal's body arrived at his home in Penang at 3.35pm today after leaving Ipoh.
Earlier this evening, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and state Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow were at Karpal's home to pay their respects. – April 17, 2014.
