Deepa needs MIC’s help, but where are its top leaders?

QUICK TAKE: Where are MIC’s top leaders when you need them? Till today, none had come forward to defend S Deepa whose son was abducted by her Muslim convert ex-husband Izwan Abdullah.

Where are you Datuk Seri G Palanivel? Where are you, Datuk Dr S Subramaniam?

So far, we only saw your party’s subordinates coming to the defence of one helpless single Indian woman who could do with some serious help from MIC, the party which is supposed to look after the interests of the Indian community in the country.

Only MIC Youth, MIC strategic director Datuk Seri Vel Paari and the party Women’s wing had stepped forward in Deepa’s defence saying that if the police do not take action, it would mean they are condoning the act of abduction and that it is alright to abuse women.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had earlier suggested that Deepa and Izwan should settle their problems privately stating that the police was not worried over the fate of the son as he was with his father.

After receiving a lot of flak for suggesting the table talk, the IGP then changed his tune to say that Izwan was being probed for other offences and not on the civil court order to release the children to Deepa.

Michael Cornelius literally ‘the man behind Karpal’

The name Michael Cornelius Selvam Vellu may not be as famous as the man he was serving - renowned lawyer Karpal Singh - but his sacrifice would remain in the annals of Malaysian history for his devotion to his master or boss.

It would suffice to say that Michael was literally the man behind Karpal since the 39-year-old, would push his boss around in his wheelchair wherever he went, including to the Parliament.

Bukit Gelugor MP and former DAP chairperson Karpal Singh, 74, died in a car accident on the North-South Expressway this morning near Gua Tempurung, Kampar in Perak together with his long-serving personal assistant Michael.

Karpal’s daughter Sangeet Kaur Deo said Michael was a 'faithful servant to his master’ and stayed with him even in death.

In a 1.10am road accident at Km306.1 of the North-South Expressway near Gua Tempurung in Kampar early today, involving an MPV and a lorry, Karpal and Michael died at the scene.

Hailing from Vellore, Tamil Nadu in southern India, Michael leaves behind a wife, a son and a daughter while his body is expected to be flown back to India for burial.

Karpal, who leaves behind a wife, five children and four grandchildren, stepped aside as DAP chairperson temporarily in March, pending his appeal against a sedition conviction.




Source- Bernama

10 things about: Karpal Singh, The Tiger of Jelutong -

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — For many  who had the pleasure of meeting him, the late Karpal Singh was an approachable statesman and lawyer who had a time for everyone who sought his counsel.

The man has been dubbed "a friend to the oppressed and marginalised" was killed in a road accident in the early hours of Thursday. A previous road accident had already left him in a wheel chair.

Karpal was the MP for Jelutong  for 21 years. At his death, he was the MP for Bukit Gelugor, having held the seat since 2004.

The DAP veteran left behind five children, four grandchildren, and his wife of over 40 years, Gurmit Kaur.
Here are ten choice quotes from his 44 years in the legal and political arena:

Opposition to Islamic state

• “An Islamic state over my dead body”

Karpal was quoted as saying in a political rally in Sungai Pinang in 1990, leading his detractors to brand him as “anti-Islam”.

• He has since apologised for the remark, and explained in an interview last month with DAP’s online news Roketkini the party’s stand on hudud and Islamic laws:
  
  “The DAP’s stand against hudud is clear … The Federal Constitution provides for a secular state. So you cannot have in a secular state an Islamic law in the form of hudud. In a secular state, we cannot have laws other than secular laws.”

The life and times of Karpal Singh: A fighter to the very end

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — Karpal Singh, the veteran opposition politician, died in a car crash early this morning on the way to a court hearing in Penang, forever defining the DAP chairman as a fighter for just cause to the very end.

Despite his reputation as a political institution, the Bukit Gelugor MP thought of himself as more of a lawyer than a politician, as noted in a media interview during his 70th birthday in 2010.

He was survived by five children, four grandchildren, and Gurmit Kaur, his wife of over 40 years.

Here are some of his defining moments in the Tiger of Jelutong’s illustrious career as a lawyer and statesman:

1970
Following the May 13 riots the year before, Karpal joined DAP citing the party’s multiracial political platform.

He had also started his own law firm after being called to the Penang Bar in 1969.

1977
As a staunch advocate against the death penalty, one of Karpal’s earliest victories was to successfully get a pardon from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for a 14-year-old Chinese boy who had been sentenced to death for possessing a firearm under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

He is alleged to have told the King that the boy’s death would be “politically explosive”.

Karpal’s old foe has nothing but respect

PETALING JAYA: In the early 1980s, two fiery well known figures used to have explosive arguments in Parliament declaring themselves as Tiger and Lion, among other things.

The two were none other than former Works Minister and ex-MIC president S Samy Vellu and prominent lawyer and DAP diehard Karpal Singh.

One of the more memorable arguments in Parliament took place in 1982, when Samy Vellu told Karpal:

“If you are a tiger (Karpal was dubbed the Tiger of Jelutong), then I am a Lion.”

To this Karpal with his usual wit replied:”I am a Lion by birth (Singh means Lion in Punjabi).

Samy Vellu not to be outdone shot back:”Never mind you be the Lion because there are no Lions in Malaysia.”

These were the kind of war of words between the two ever since anyone can remember.

But today, hours after Karpal perished in a motor accident, Samy Vellu has no other words but to say that the vocal lawyer cum politician was a great man who brought championed peoples issues.

“Karpal’s demise is a big loss for the country and the people. He is a man who highlighted the peoples issue.

“In parliament, he was strong advocating the peoples issues. He also believed in the democratic process.

“I have worked with him…in fact we had clashed on numerous occasion.

He raised valid questions and I answered. Although we were at odds in Parliament, there was mutual respect between us.

“He was not like other politicians who like to say that and this outside the Dewan (Rakyat).

He is always consistent and believed in the cause,” Samy Vellu told FMT when contacted today.

Repeating that Karpal’s demise was a great loss to the nation, Samy Vellu said Karpal was a great leader who understood the pulse of the people.

“I will also be attending his funeral. I want to pay my respects to a friend whose loss will be sorely felt,” said Samy Vellu.

The former DAP chairman and Bukit Gelugor MP died in a road accident at Km306.1 of the North-South Expressway, near Gua Tempurung, in Kampar early today, police said. He was 73.

Also killed in the 1.10am accident, involving an MPV and a lorry, was Karpal Singh’s personal assistant Michael Cornelius, 39.

Karpal’s remains would lie in wake until Sunday at his family home in Penang before cremation.



Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/04/17/karpals-old-foe-has-nothing-but-respect/

Karpal makes last journey home to Penang

Amid tears of sorrow, a coffin bearing Karpal Singh's body was loaded onto a van for his final journey back to Penang today.

The 73-year-old, popularly known as the "Tiger of Jelutong", died early this morning after the Toyota Alphard he was in collided with a five-tonne Mitsubishi Canter.

Karpal's body had been brought to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh at 7.25am today for an autopsy.

Before the casket was taken out of the morgue, Karpal's wife and other family members were allowed in to view the body.

Besides the throng of photographers and reporters, there were many mourners who waited outside the mortuary to pay their last respects.

As the casket was carried towards the van, many people strained to touch Karpal's casket.

The van departed from Ipoh Hospital at 1.30pm accompanied by three police outriders and other vehicles bearing his family.

The police outriders escorted the van until the toll plaza before returning to Ipoh.

It is understood that the funeral is expected to be held on Sunday at 11am so that relatives abroad have sufficient time to return to Malaysia to pay their respects.

Karpal and his aide, Michael Cornelius Selvam Velly, 39, were killed in the accident which occurred about 1.10am near Gua Tempurung in Perak.

Police said they both died at the scene.

Karpal's son, Ramkarpal, and their driver were slightly injured but their maid is said to be in critical condition.

Police, however, said that the lorry driver, who was not injured in the accident, had traces of cannabis in his urine sample.

Perak police chief Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani had told The Malaysian Insider that the initial urine screening of the 45-year-old driver revealed traces of cannabis.

"We have sent the urine sample to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh for confirmation," Acryl said.

The Malaysian Insider also learnt that initial checks revealed that Karpal's driver is believed to have 15 outstanding traffic summonses for speeding.

Checks on the Toyota Alphard revealed that a total of 29 traffic summonses had been issued, of which 15 had not been settled.

Acryl said this was the result of initial checks and investigations which were conducted under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

There has been an outpouring of tribute and condolences from leaders from both sides of the political divide, the legal fraternity and netizens.

Many described Karpal's passing as a great loss and hailed him as a champion of the people who had constantly pursued justice.

DAP has instructed all its branches to fly the party flag at half-mast as a mark of respect for the party's former chairman. – April 17, 2014.


Source : http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/karpal-makes-last-journey-home-to-penang

Outside Karpal’s Penang home, flowers and sorrow

GEORGE TOWN, April 17 — As news of Karpal Singh’s shocking death sent shockwaves throughout the country, well-wishers and reporters began gathering at his home along Jalan Utama here.

Some brought flowers to lay in front of the late lawmaker’s house. Others brought memories of how he touched their lives from before.

“Karpal was the one to save my brother from the gallows more than 20 years ago,” P. Kalaiyarasan, (left) 51, said.

He was among those thronging the area outside the home, bringing traffic to a crawl.

According to Kalaiyarasan, his brother was convicted for drug trafficking and sentenced to hang but Karpal took over the appeal against the decision and won his brother’s acquittal.

“Every year, especially during Thaipusam, we would come to visit Karpal at his house,” Kalaiyarasan said.

Political leaders such as Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow and Pulau Tikus state assemblyman Yap Soo Huey also turned up at the house today.

Karpal was killed after the Toyota Alphard MPV he was travelling in crashed following a collision with a lorry along the North-South Highway near Gopeng, Perak at 1.10am.

Long-time aide Michael Cornelius was also killed, while their driver is seriously injured. Karpal’s son, Ramkarpal Singh, sustained injuries.

The Bukit Gelugor MP leaves behind his wife, Gurmit, five children and four grandchildren.




Source : http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/outside-karpals-penang-home-flowers-and-sorrow