Goodbye, Karpal: Thousands pay their last respects

However, he was killed in a road accident early Thursday which also took the life of his faithful assistant, 39-year-old Michael Cornelius Selvam Vallu.

For the past three days, there has been a steady flow of friends -- and foes-- as well people from all walks of life, who have visited the Karpal home in Penang.

But the crowd today here was massive, with thousands who gathered at the public funeral held at Dewan Sri Pinang hall this morning.

The funeral this morning, where the man was accorded with state honours by the Penang government, was swarmed with people, many of people from coming down to the Island state from various states.

At the end of the session, lasting almost four hours, the crowd chanted "Karpal Singh! Karpal Singh!". There were posters and many also wore t-shirts bearing his likeness.

Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, reading out the state eulogy, said that the Rakyat lost a "fearless tiger with an indomitable spirit who stood up for the poor, weak, defenseless and dispossessed".

Lim asked the people to not just mourn Karpal's passing but also honour and celebrate the man's accomplishments; especially his "aspirations of justice, integrity and freedom".

"For 40 years, Saudara Karpal dedicated his life to the legal profession, fighting for justice, upholding our constitutional rights of freedom and human rights. His landmark cases are textbook references for lawyers," said Lim.

Lim also said Karpal was devoted father and husband, though many at the funeral would attest that the father of five had given up much in his years in politics and law.

The tragic accident that killed Karpal, who was wheelchair bound from another accident in 2005, had robbed the people of a "upstanding and outstanding" leader, said Lim.

Earlier, a long line of people, young and old-- including politicians both from BN and Pakatan Rakyat -- streamed in to take a last look at the former DAP chairman.

Many put their hands together and bowed their heads before the casket where the three-term state assemblyman in Penang, and eight-term MP for Jelutong and Bukit Gelugor laid. They gave lingering glances at the casket draped with the State flag and the DAP flag, before being ushered along.

Others were more emotional and some were in tears, some gave the family a hug, some touched the casket where the late Karpal lay.

There was even one man who suddenly stood straight, shouted and saluted. However, he was quietly told to move on. The mourners were all greeted by Karpal's children-- Jagdeep, Gobind, Ramkarpal, Mankarpal and Sangeet Kayr -- who stood solemnly before the coffin. The proceedings were flanked the family members seated on one side and mostly Opposition and DAP leasers seated on the other.

Those who knew him and worked with him said he "did everything for the people" regardless of their race.

"He was a man of the people. Throughout these few days, we saw the kinds of people who came in droves. They were in crutches, in wheelchair, old, and the very poor," said lawyer Malkit Singh, who said he knew Karpal since he was a young boy.

"But one thing is sure. There will never be another Karpal Singh," he said.

Earlier, the last farewell for Karpal began at the renowned lawyer's house at Jalan Utama with scores of people arriving there as early as 6am to pay their last respects. However, they were mostly told to do so at the hall.

At 7.45am, the coffin was brought out of the house at with loud firecrackers and shouts of 'Boleh Sone Hal!' and 'Sat Sri Akal' (Praises to the Sikh God), escorted out by a heavy entourage of DAP leaders and state officials.

There was also a team of motorcycle and bicycle riders leading the procession.

Prayers were performed at both the house and the hall earlier while Karpal's remains were cremated at the Batu Gantung cemetery at 2.10pm.

During the last prayers prior to the cremation, eyewitnesses said that the jostling crowd angered Karpal's youngest son, Mankarpal, who grabbed a woman's handphone and threw it at a wall.

The shocked crowd then became quieter and allowed the family more space t

After the body was moved into the cremation chamber, Baksis Singh, elder brother, simply said:" I believe this is the will of God."

Earlier, the procession went through go the city making stops at four places significant to Karpal; the Penang High Court, his office located in Green Hall, the Penang state assembly building and St Xavier’s Institution (SXI), as he was an alumni of that school.