Karpal Singh, veteran Malaysian lawyer, dies in car accident
Lindsay Murdoch
South-East Asia correspondent for Fairfax Media

PERAK: -- Karpal Singh, a veteran Malaysian opposition leader and lawyer who led campaigns against the death penalty, has been killed in a car accident. He was 73.

In 1986 Mr Karpal represented Australian heroin traffickers Brian Chambers and Kevin Barlow before they were hanged in Kuala Lumpur’s Puda jail. Asked how he felt immediately after the hangings, Mr Karpal replied: “Pathetic, that it should have come to this.”

Mr Karpal was killed along with a long-time assistant when a vehicle he was travelling collided with a truck on a highway in Malaysia’s northern state of Perak early Thursday.

Full story: http://www.smh.com.au/world/karpal-singh-veteran-malaysian-lawyer-dies-in-car-accident-20140417-zqvwh.html


-- The Age 2014-04-17

Mr. Karpal Singh was my neighbour in the late 80's on Jalan Burma in Penang and was always a champion on democracy in Malaysia with other figures such as Mr. Lim Kiat Seng of the DAP.

RIP Mr. Karpal Singh.

Veteran M'sian politician Karpal Singh dies in car accident
Manjit Kaur and G. Surach
The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: -- Bukit Gelugor MP and veteran opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) leader Karpal Singh was killed when the car he was travelling in collided with a five-tonne lorry near Gua Tempurung on the North South Expressway here early Thursday.

The impact of the crash at about 1am killed the prominent lawyer and his assistant, C Michael, on the spot. Karpal's son, Ramkarpal, and the car's driver, C Selvam, were injured.

Karpal's Indonesian domestic helper was also injured and is in critical condition.

He was on his way to Penang to attend a court case later in the day.

In 2005, Karpal was involved in an accident which left him paralysed and wheelchair-bound. He was returning to his home in Penang when a car hit his taxi at the rear.

It was believed that 74-year-old Karpal was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang to attend a court hearing later in the morning when the accident occurred.

The Toyota Alphard, he was in along with three passengers including his son Ramkarpal, was believed to have collided with a lorry before going out of control.

His son Gobind Singh Deo, when contacted, confirmed that Karpal had died on the spot in the accident.

"His assistant Michael (Selvam) was also killed in the accident while the driver is critically injured.

"My brother Ram is slightly injured but we are trying to get through to him," he said when contacted at 3:30am.

Gobind, who is Puchong MP, added that he was in Kuala Lumpur at the time of incident and will be heading to the accident site.

In 2005, Karpal was involved in an accident which left him paralysed and wheelchair-bound. He was returning to his home in Penang when a car hit his taxi at the rear.

Karpal graduated from University of Singapore and started his law practice before becoming a DAP politician in 1978.

He recently stepped down as DAP chairman pending his appeal against a sedition charge of uttering seditious words against the Sultan of Perak in 2009.


-- ANN 2014-04-17

Malaysian opposition DAP leader Karpal Singh dies in car accident



Bukit Gelugor MP and veteran DAP leader Karpal Singh was killed when the car he was travelling in collided with a five-tonne lorry near Gua Tempurung on the North South Expressway here early Thursday.

The impact of the crash at about 1am killed the prominent lawyer and his assistant, C Michael, on the spot. Karpal’s son, Ramkarpal, and the car’s driver, C Selvam, were injured.

Karpal’s Indonesian domestic helper was also injured and is in critical condition.

He was on his way to Penang to attend a court case later in the day.

In 2005, Karpal was involved in an accident which left him paralysed and wheelchair-bound. He was returning to his home in Penang when a car hit his taxi at the rear.

Karpal graduated from University of Singapore and started his law practice before becoming a DAP politician in 1978.

He recently stepped down as DAP chairman pending his appeal against a sedition charge of uttering seditious words against the Sultan of Perak in 2009.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/malaysian-opposition-dap-leader-karpal-singh-dies-car-accident/

-- Thai PBS 2014-04-17

Lets just hope this is an accident, and nothing more.

Lets just hope this is an accident, and nothing more.

I was thinking the same.... accident or arrangement??

What are the odds to be involved in two life changing, fatal accidents I wonder? he got away

by the skin of his teeth the first time but the second time he wasn't so lucky... R.I.P

i lived in kl for some years and went with a muslim girl whose family was involved in politic system if you are not malaya and islam you got no where in life or any jobs that would be a threat to there inner clan if you are the dunce at school and malaya and islam you will get any job in govt including airlines army police because they say only islam are to control country before any indian and chiness frighten might get some control even if 3rd generation born there singh was always a thorn in the corrupt govt side not one ounce off truth will ever come out of that country cheers

i lived in kl for some years and went with a muslim girl whose family was involved in politic system if you are not malaya and islam you got no where in life or any jobs that would be a threat to there inner clan if you are the dunce at school and malaya and islam you will get any job in govt including airlines army police because they say only islam are to control country before any indian and chiness frighten might get some control even if 3rd generation born there singh was always a thorn in the corrupt govt side not one ounce off truth will ever come out of that country cheers

I'm astonished to read such remarks from you. Are you sure you live in KL and with a muslim girl ??? Are you sure you are not somewhere in a sheethole where you really belong ? Excuse me for my language but you are really ignorant of what is the reality in Malaysia. I suggest that you spend at least one week in KL and see for yourself who actually is controlling the country. And stop being a racist.

State funeral for Karpal in Penang



PENANG: -- DAP stalwart and prominent lawyer Karpal Singh will be given a state funeral on Sunday.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the public ceremony would be held at Dewan Sri Pinang in Light Street here from 9am to 11am. The cortege will then leave for the Batu Gantong crematorium. “His casket will be draped with the Penang flag,” said Lim.

He added that an emergency state exco meeting had decided that the Penang flag would be flown at half-mast until the funeral.

Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, said all party events nationwide would be rescheduled to after the funeral.

As befitting Karpal’s status in the party, it has set up a national funeral committee headed by DAP acting national chairman Tan Kok Wai as well as a state committee with state party chairman Chow Kon Yeow at the helm.

The wake is being held at Karpal’s residence at 144A Jalan Utama here. Karpal’s ashes will be scattered in the sea on Monday morning.

Karpal Singh was killed in a road accident Thursday morning when the car he was travelling in rammed into the side of a lorry at the North South Expressway. He was 73.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/state-funeral-karpal-penang/


-- Thai PBS 2014-04-18

Was a thai driving the vehicle that hit him?