"Without Michael, I will die," joked Karpal Singh

A day before the tragic accident, the late Karpal Singh had joked with his staff in his office, saying “Without Michael, I will die.”

To which Michael Cornelius replied, “Without you boss (Karpal), I will also die.”

In revealing what was probably one of the last statements heard from the pair, the late Karpal Singh’s daughter, Sangeet Kaur Deo said Michael had worked with her father for nearly nine years.

In an interview with Astro AWANI at the Forensic Department of the Raja Bainun Hospital (HRPB) in Ipoh on Saturday, Sangeet described Michael as a very dedicated, hardworking and trustworthy person.

Apart from Sangeet, the late Karpal Singh’s children, Ramkarpal Singh and Man Karpal were also seen at the hospital, helping in the arrangements to transport Michael Cornelius Selvam Vellu to Vellore in India.

Sangeet clearly could not hold back her tears when Michael’s body was carried into the hearse.

She said, Michael had served her family well and she will never be able to find a way to repay his good deeds.

Michael’s body will be transported in a Malaysia Airline cargo plane MH180 which will leave Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 10pm Saturday for Vellore, India.