Karpal Singh to receive posthumous public service award

The late Karpal Singh will posthumously receive a special award in recognition for his dedicated service to the nation for more than 40 years, said the Gandhi Memorial Trust (GMT) chairman S.Radhakrishnan.

He said the public service award would be presented by GMT at a special ceremony to be at the Royal Selangor Club in Kuala Lumpur on June 30.

Radhakrishnan also described Karpal, who was a former DAP national chairman and Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament, as a brilliant lawyer, an astute politician and parliamentarian and, above all, a strong human rights activist.

"Karpal's life long passion had been the pursuit of social justice and upholding the Malaysian Constitution and the Rule of Law.

"He was a national treasure and will be clearly missed and lovingly remembered for his great contribution and sacrifices to make Malaysia a better place that all of us in Malaysia can be proud of," he told Bernama.

Karpal, known as the 'Tiger of Jelutong', died in a road accident at KM306.1 of the North-South Expressway, near Gua Tempurung, in Kampar early April 17. He was 74.

Commenting further, Radhakrishnan said GMT had invited four prominent individuals with legal backgrounds to speak on the various facets of Karpal's life and work before the presentation of the award.

They are retired judge of Court of Appeal Datuk Mahadev Shankar, former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of law Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim, former Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and lawyer Datuk Jagjit Singh, he said.

Karpal's wife, Gurmit Kaur and all his children would also be attending the ceremony besides 20 ambassadors and high commissioners and a number of judges and retired judges.

Those who wish to attend or require further details could send an email to radhakrishnan@shearndelamore.com.