Karpal Singh has contributed much to the nation - Tun Mahathir

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said despite professing a differing political ideology, former DAP chairman Karpal Singh Ram Singh who died in a road accident today, had contributed much to the nation.

He noted that Karpal Singh was critical of the government when he perceived that things were not right.

The Bukit Gelugor MP was 74.

"Some of his criticisms might not be correct, but some had basis. We need people from the opposition who talk sense," he told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the roundtable session on 'Managing Rising Cost in the Current Business Environment' at Menara Matrade, here today.

Dr Mahathir extended his condolences to the family of the late lawyer.

Karpal Singh was killed after the MPV he was travelling in from Kuala Lumpur to Penang was involved in a collision with a lorry at Km306.1 of the North-South Expressway near Gua Tempurung in Kampar, Perak at 1.10 am today.

Also killed in the accident was his personal assistant, Michael Cornelius, who was in his 40s.