He was our role model, our hero, say Karpal’s sons
As the patriarch of a close-knit family, Karpal Singh was a devoted father and grandfather, his sons said.
Jagdeep Singh Deo, 43, recalled that when he and his four siblings were growing up, his father’s legal and political careers took up so much of his time that he was hardly at home.
So whenever the family was together, it was truly quality time for all of them, he said.
Karpal took them out for meals and they were all very close to him, he told The Malaysian Insider at the family home in Penang yesterday.
"As we grew older, he shared his life with us. He was a great lawyer and formidable politician.
"We followed his career as we grew up and when we were in secondary school, we followed his big cases.
"We also experienced many general elections with him. We joined him in his campaigns and political events," he said.
Gobind Singh Deo, meanwhile, remembered that his father always defended his children whenever they got into a scrape at home.
"He was always on our side," Gobind told reporters today, when asked whether Karpal was a strict father.
"We had him as our house lawyer against our mother and he was the best dad in the world," he said.
“Even when we were naughty as kids, he would defend us.”
Gobind said the most important lesson Karpal taught his children was to always stick to one’s principles and defend it.
"Even if it was not a popular thing to do, my father reminded us that we should always stick to our principles.
"Many would waver away from their principles if it is inconvenient, but not Karpal.
"For him, there was no two ways about it. What should be said must be said," Gobind said.
Jagdeep, who is Datuk Keramat assemblyman and a Penang executive councillor, said he and brother Puchong MP Gobind followed their father's footsteps and became lawyers and politicians.
Jagdeep joined the DAP in 1994 after he completed his law degree, and Gobind followed suit later after he completed his studies.
Siblings Sangeet Kaur Deo and Ramkarpal Singh also took up legal careers, although they did not enter politics. Only the youngest, Mankarpal Singh, 26, chose a different path and became a banker.
"Our father never told any of us to follow him into law and politics.
"I saw how great a man he was, reaching out to the people and helping them... when people were down, he brought them up again.
"I was inspired to be like him and I hope that all Malaysians will follow his example," he said.
Jagdeep said it was when grandchildren came along that they saw that their father Karpal wished he could have spent more time with his children during their younger years.
Karpal had 11 grandchildren aged between one and 11 years old, who Jagdeep said are "capable of bringing the house down" when they are all together.
"My father spoiled them rotten when he was with them. He bought them sweets, chocolates and toys... he was a fun grandfather.
"They are all going to miss him very much," Jagdeep said, adding that the four older children understood what happened to their grandfather.
"Unfortunately, my father will miss the birth of my fourth child, who is due in June. My baby will not get to meet him.
"My father had called on Wednesday to check on my wife and her condition," he said.
The entire family, he said, is trying to stay strong and stand by their mother Gurmit Kaur, who has taken the news hard.
He said the last he spoke to his father was last Friday when Karpal was in Kuala Lumpur.
He had tried to reach him by phone on Wednesday but his father was with clients.
Jagdeep also said he will miss his father's wit.
"He could put things in a witty manner. He had an angle that others didn’t.
"He could draw people into easy conversations with him... I will miss that most," he said.
Jagdeep said many in the legal fraternity will also miss his father who was much respected.
"Although I am not practising now, I still followed his cases. He had the most interesting ones," he said.
Karpal, in his legal career of almost half a century, handled some 1,000 cases and contributed to the development of Malaysian criminal and civil law with nearly 600 citations in the Malaysian Law Journal.
Karpal often tested the law including the Federal Constitution, and pushed for the courts to make ground-breaking decisions.
He was DAP national chairman from 2004 until late last month when he stepped down after he was convicted of sedition and fined RM4,000.
Karpal, 73, died on Thursday at about 1.10am when his car was involved in a collision with a five-ton lorry near Gua Tempurung on the North-South Expressway near Gua Tempurung.
He was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang to attend the hearing of a murder case.
The prominent lawyer and his personal aide Michael Cornelius died on the spot from the impact of the crash.
Ramkarpal and driver C. Selvam sustained minor injuries. Karpal's Indonesian domestic helper was also injured and is said to be in critical condition at the Ipoh Hospital. – April 19, 2014.
