Malaysia opposition stalwart Karpal Singh dies in road accident, son injured

KUALA LUMPUR — Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh died in a car accident on the North-South Expressway this morning (April 17) near Gua Tempurung, Kampar in Perak.

Kampar police chief Superintendent Ng Kong Soon confirmed that Mr Karpal died in a road accident at KM306.1 of the North-South Expressway near Gua Tempurung at 12.40 am today.

Mr Karpal, who would have turned 74 in June, was believed to be travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang to attend a court hearing scheduled for this morning.

Born in Penang on June 28, 1940, Mr Karpal graduated with a law degree from the National University of Singapore.

Mr Karpal’s political career began in 1970 when he joined the DAP. He won a seat in the Kedah State Legislative Assembly in 1974.

He was first elected to Parliament in 1978 as the representative for Jelutong, Penang, and held the seat for more than 20 years until losing it in 1999. It is during this time that Mr Karpal earned the moniker, “Tiger of Jelutong.”

He returned to parliament in the next general election, and led the DAP to its strongest ever performance in the 2008 general election.

Mr Karpal leaves behind a wife, five children and four grandchildren.

Police said he died on the spot. There were three other occupants in Mr Karpal’s Toyota Alphard, which has the iconic number plate KS9898.

His long-time assistant Mr Michael Cornelius Selvam Vellu also died, while Mr Karpal’s son Mr Ramkarpal and the driver were injured.

The mood at the Kampar Hospital mortuary was highly emotional as family members of the late Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh arrived.

His wife Ms Gurmit Kaur was inconsolable as she wailed “Why why”, while his son, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, who was holding his mother all the way to the mortuary, also broke down. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER