Law students hold candlelight vigil for Karpal
A group of first-year law students held a candlelight vigil at the Esplanade in George Town, Penang, tonight for their idol, the late Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh.
The students had planned an impromptu vigil for Karpal, who they credited with inspiring them to take up law as a career choice.
“We planned the event on Facebook and word got around," said 23-year-old Sanjey Balaraman.
He turned up at the Esplanade about 8.30pm with a poster of Karpal and his personal assistant, Michael Cornelius.
Both Karpal and Michael died in an accident yesterday along KM306.1 of the North-South Expressway.
The vigil began with the candles around pictures of Karpal and Michael. The group then shared their experiences of Karpal.
Karpal's nephew, Dalbinder Singh, also attended the vigil and spoke about how he gave his uncle a lift to Kuala Lumpur in November 2011.
"At that time, Karpal did not have a driver yet. A relative died in Kuala Lumpur and my father told me to drive Karpal down to the capital.
"There were five of us who made the trip down to Kuala Lumpur at 11pm that night," Dalbinder told The Malaysian Insider.
"Karpal, my aunt, Michael, the Indonesian maid and I made the trip down in the Toyota Alphard."
Dalbinder said Karpal's pet dog was in the boot at that time and snoring loudly during the journey.
"Halfway to Kuala Lumpur, I began to feel sleepy and kept my foot on the brakes. The Alphard began to slow down in the middle of the road.
"This caused Michael to wake up and ask me whether everything was all right," Dalbinder said.
"We stopped at the nearest rest and recreation area and I drank three cans of Red Bull and coffee to perk up."
Dalbinder said the rest of the journey proceeded without a hitch.
Sanjey expressed his anger at the insensitive actions of Barisan Nasional Langkawi MP Datuk Nawawi Ahmad and former Perkasa vice-president Datuk Zulkifli Noordin following Karpal's death.
"Karpal is an inspiration to many law students and he is also a Malaysian, first and foremost," said Sanjey.
"When we read about his journey towards becoming a lawyer, it inspired us as well," he added.
Dalbinder said although his uncle's journey was incomplete, others would take up the cause and continued Karpal's struggle.
Yesterday, at 1.10am, Karpal's Toyota Alphard was involved in a collision with a five-tonne Mitsubishi Canter.
Karpal, 73, and Michael, 39, both died in the incident while the Indonesian maid suffered serious injuries.
Karpal's son, Ramkarpal, and the driver emerged from the accident with light injuries. – April 18, 2014.
