"I want to become the next Tiger of Jelutong," -Akhshay Singh Deo

A few hours before receiving news on the passing of revered lawyer and politician Karpal Singh, his 11 year-old grandson Akhshay Singh Deo said he had a dream of his grandfather.

In the dream, they were walking hand in hand on the beach and played ball.

“He hugged me... this is a sign that he now is able to ‘walk’ and is back with God up there,” said Karpal’s eldest grandchild.

During a memorium ceremony held for Karpal at the family home along Jalan Utama yesterday, Akhshay took the microphone and said that he wants to his emulate his grandfather’s courageous and dedication in his work, both as lawyer and politician.

“I want to become the next 'Tiger of Jelutong',” he said, referring to the moniker that Karpal earned for his outspokenness in court and in the Dewan Rakyat during his twenty years of service as Bukit Jelutong Member of Parliament.

Karpal, who would have turned 74 in June, died in a tragic car crash along with his long-time assistant Michael Cornelius, 39, along the North-South Highway on Thursday.

He leaves behind his beloved wife Gurmit Kaur, five children, and eleven grandchildren.

“Eleven of us are saying ‘jangan main-main” – so you all better be careful,” Akhshay said referring to his grandfather’s famous words to Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia in the last parliament sitting.

The grandchildren had also drawn a huge card for their grandfather, scribbled with messages of love and phrases used by the man himself.

Among them were “loving grandfather”, “We will all be tigers like you”, "My grandfather, my hero, my tiger” and “Jangan main-main”.

Thousands of people crowded the Dewan Sri Pinang hall today morning to pay their last respects to the revered political and legal icon.

A long line of people, young and old from all over the country, streamed in to take a last look at the former DAP chairman and Bukit Gelugor MP.

Karpal’s casket will be brought to the Batu Gantong crematorium by 2pm.