In state eulogy, Guan Eng hails Karpal’s great fighting spirit
Throughout his life, Karpal Singh had demonstrated to the how not to fear the government, said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in his eulogy delivered at the Bukit Gelugor MP's funeral today.
"Thomas Jefferson said that when the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny," he said.
"Karpal, the Tiger of Jelutong, never wavered in the face of adversity. He stuck to his principles and his fighting spirit was always evident."
Lim said Karpal's fighting spirit stood out starkly when they were both cell mates at the Kamunting detention centre in 1988.
Lim and Karpal were among dozens of opposition leaders who had been arrested under the Internal Security Act 1960 during Ops Lalang in 1987.
"You can detain Karpal physically but you can never detain his spirit," Lim said in his speech at Dewan Sri Pinang, where thousands had earlier paid their last respects to Karpal who was accorded a funeral with state honours.
Preparations for the funeral procession to the Batu Gantong crematorium is underway. The procession will pass several places of significance in Karpal's life (see map), and will be led by a school band from his alma mater, St Xavier's Institution.
Lim said during their detention in Kamunting, Karpal was suffering from severe spinal back pain but he refused to yield.
"This refusal to yield was evident after Karpal suffered an unfortunate accident in 2005 which paralysed him waist-down. Not only did he overcome this paralysis but he continued his brilliant legal and political career."
Lim said Karpal was the first disabled person in Malaysia to be elected twice to Parliament.
He said Karpal never charged legal fees for representing his clients in cases involving gross injustices.
"Whether it was famous VIPs like Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim or Lim Kit Siang or ordinary rakyat, Karpal would handle the case without asking for a fee.
"Karpal dedicated his life to the legal profession, fighting for justice, upholding constitutional rights. His landmark cases have become textbook references for lawyers."
Saying Karpal's death has left not an immense void in the lives of thousands of people, Lim urged Malaysians to honour Karpal by "celebrating his achievements and realising his aspirations of justice, integrity and freedom."
"Let us therefore mourn Karpal Singh, but at the same time honour him by celebrating his accomplishments and realising his aspirations of justice, integrity and freedom". – April 20, 2014.
