Karpal Singh: The passing of a legend

Karpal, a son of a cow herdsman has always been a fighter — for justice, truth and fairplay. He has been a consistent voice in the sea of politicians who change their stance for political expediency.

After being involved in an accident in 2005, which left him wheel chair bound, Karpal’s fervour for justice never wavered but his resolve seemed stronger. At times it appeared that nothing could hamper his forthrightness either as a lawyer or a politician.

The man had character.

I remember as a young boy in Penang idolising him. He was a hero. His calm demeanour and his ability to stay the course made him stand out as a people’s lawyer and politician.

In his biography aptly named ‘Tiger of Jelutong’, it is noted that Karpal had taken seven years to complete his law degree in the University of Singapore when the normal time period to complete the degree was three years.

The initial drawback of his career never derailed him. Karpal was called to the Malaysian Bar in 1969 and that marked a brilliant career which catapulted his name in the legal lexicon forever. A young Karpal had managed to argue the famous Teh Cheng Poh vs Public Prosecutor at the Privy Council and that defining case on the issue of burden of proof had placed him as one of the best criminal lawyers that the country ever produced.

He later argued the issue in the case of S. Arulpragasan vs PP before the seven top judges of the country. He won the case. Arulpragasan was acquitted. A few more were acquitted in the following weeks and months. The law of the land on the issue of burden of proof changed forever.

In the Punjabi community in Penang , Karpal was well respected.Despite being a Member of Parliament (MP), he was a humble man who treated everyone equally. Karpal was first elected as a MP in 1974 when he won the Alor Setar parliamentary seat.

That marked a distinguished career as a formidable politician much feared by the incumbent ruling party. YB Tuan Karpal Singh a/l Ram Singh Deo would have no qualms in taking on anyone for the pursuit of justice and the truth. He was one fearless politician.

Then came the dark clouds of 1987 when justice was massacred in Malaysia. Through the draconian Internal Security Act, Karpal was condemned to 15 months in prison together with leading opposition members as they were perceived as threats to the government of the day. This would have dented the spirit of the faint hearted but not the ‘Tiger of Jelutong’. The tiger was wounded but will live to fight another day, another battle.

Karpal went on to fight many other battles and etched his name in Malaysian history. However, he was recently sentenced to a fine of RM4,000 for a sedition charge that would have seen him losing his seat as a sitting MP. Karpal will not be able to prove his innocence but what is more tragic of the episode is the Attorney General has cross appealed , probably seeking a custodial sentence for a wheelchair bound 73 old man.