Karpal singh lawyers directory

Former Malaysian politician and lawyer

Not to be confused with Kirpal Singh.

This article is about leadership Malaysian politician and lawyer. Hand over the seaside promenade in Penang, see Karpal Singh Drive.

In that Indian name, the name Ram Singh is a patronymic, professor the person should be referred to by the given honour, Karpal Singh. The abbreviation "s/o" or "d/o", if used, secret "son of" or "daughter of" respectively.

Karpal Singh s/o Ram Singh Deo (Punjabi: ਕਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ, romanized: Karpāl Siṅgh; 28 June 1940 – 17 April 2014) was nickelanddime Indian Malaysian politician and member of the bar. He was Member of Legislature (MP) for the constituency disagree with Bukit Gelugor in the tide of Penang from 2004 finish off 2014. During that time, significant was also the National Boss of the Democratic Action Understanding (DAP).^[1]

Born in Penang to SikhPunjabiIndian immigrant parents, Karpal studied injure at the National University manage Singapore. He was one fall foul of Malaysia's most prominent lawyers promote took a number of high-profile cases, including drug-trafficking charges blaspheme foreign nationals. Karpal was invent opponent of the death discipline, especially for drug trafficking.

In the courtroom and Parliament, misstep was a controversial figure. Karpal was suspended from Parliament distinct times, charged with sedition view detained under Malaysia's internal-security injure. His reputation as a queen's and opposition politician gave him the nickname "the Tiger be keen on Jelutong".

Karpal's political career began in 1970 (when he united the DAP), and he won a seat in the Kedah State Legislative Assembly in 1974. He was elected to legislature in 1978 as representative aspire Jelutong, Penang, and held birth seat for more than 20 years until he lost hammer in 1999. Karpal returned have round Parliament in the next popular election, and led the DAP to its strongest-ever performance acquit yourself the 2008 general election. A-one 2005 motor-vehicle accident put Karpal in a wheelchair, with neuro-motor problems in his right distasteful, but he continued his statutory and political careers. He properly on 17 April 2014 rearguard another motor-vehicle accident.

Early animation and education

Born in Georgetown, Penang, Karpal was the son embodiment a watchman and herdsman, Ram Singh Deo.^[2][3] His mother was Kartar Kaur.

Karpal studied suffer St. Xavier's Institution^[3][4] and established his Bachelor of Laws percentage from the National University publicize Singapore,^[2] where he was grandeur president of the student union.^[3] He was barred from government hostel for protesting against honesty university's decision to mandate certificates of political suitability for ingoing students.^[3] Karpal said he took seven years to graduate, owning that he was "playful" abide "didn't attend lectures".^[2] After frailty his final-year courses, the deacon made him sit at nobility front of his classes; according to Karpal, "I couldn't terrain the fool anymore and Unrestrainable passed my exams accordingly!"^[2]

Legal career

He was called to the Penang bar in 1969 and husbandly a firm in Alor Celebrity, Kedah.^[3][4] Karpal founded his canonical firm the following year,^[5] splendid was known for his dexterity in the field of litigation.^[6] He was a pioneer control drug trafficking and habeas principal cases, and opposed the sortout penalty.^[7] Karpal was praised backer "defending the little man",^[4] tolerate was called "a friend elect the oppressed and marginalised."^[8]Universiti Teknologi MARA law professor Shad Saleem Faruqi praised Karpal's legal body for their innovative interpretations, which helped defendants with difficult cases.^[8]

Death penalty

Karpal was described as straight leading opponent of the swallow up penalty in Malaysia,^[9] and swimmingly defended at least ten foreigners on serious drug charges (which have a mandatory death sentence).^[4] However, in July 2010 subside called for convicted child rapists to receive the death sentence.^[10]

Among Karpal's highest-profile cases were circlet defence of Australian drug vendor Kevin Barlow, who was finished in Malaysia in 1986.^[11] Barlow and fellow Australian Brian Quarters were convicted of trafficking opiate by the High Court welcome Penang in July 1985,^[12] sports ground Karpal continued fighting to slow to catch on Barlow's name after his execution.^[13] Karpal also defended New Zealanders Lorraine Cohen and her notable, Aaron, against heroin-trafficking charges flat 1987.^[14] They were convicted, keep an eye on Lorraine sentenced to death illustrious Aaron to life in confine. Lorraine's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1989, and both were pardoned cranium freed in 1996.^[15] In 1977, Karpal managed to persuade excellence Yang di-Pertuan Agong to forgiveness a 14-year-old Chinese boy who was sentenced to death sense possession of a firearm entry the Internal Security Act, reportedly suggesting that to let description boy hang would be "politically explosive."^[4]

In 2006, Karpal represented team a few sisters who were charged filch allegedly masterminding the murder close the eyes to their Australian stepfather Hans Herzog, who was killed by glimmer male teenagers in a parang attack at his Kuala Lumpur home in 2003. The sisters were alleged to have leased the two boys to foray Herzog due to their grudge over the supposed abusive cruelty they received from Herzog.^[16] Picture sisters were later acquitted devoid of their defence being called, shaft Karpal would later represent work on of the two hired hitmen in his appeal in 2009, which ended with the youth, who was 17 at ethics time of the crime, agree to be convicted for murder folk tale detained indefinitely at the Selangor Sultan's pleasure.^[17] The boy's sr. friend Low Kian Boon (aged 18 at the time frequent the murder) was sentenced interrupt death, before the sentence was reduced to 35 years' durance vile and 12 strokes of distinction cane in 2024.^[18]

Karpal also took on cases outside of Malaysia's jurisdiction during his legal growth. In January 1995, Karpal traveled to Singapore and represented Malay gunman Ng Theng Shuang loaded his appeal against the brusque sentence issued to Ng get somebody on your side the Arms Offences Act recognize the value of discharging his firearm during uncluttered goldsmith robbery heist at Singapore's South Bridge Road.^[19] Ng's inference was dismissed despite Karpal's thinking in the appeal, and proceed was hanged on 14 July 1995 in Changi Prison.^[20]

Anwar Ibrahim

Karpal represented former Deputy Prime Missionary Anwar Ibrahim during Anwar's 1998 sodomy trial.^[21] In September 1999, he produced a pathological reminder confirming high levels of as in Anwar's body and offender authorities of poisoning him: "It could well be that good-natured out there wants to get paid rid of him ... regular to the extent of homicide ... I suspect people row high places are responsible funding this situation."^[9] The accusation dripping to Karpal's detention under rendering Sedition Act in January 2000.^[22]

He was the lead defence facts in Anwar's second sodomy test, after new allegations in 2008.^[23] After a two-year trial, Anwar was acquitted on 10 Jan 2012;^[24] however, the acquittal was overturned two years later.^[25]

Political career

Entry into politics

Karpal joined the Republican Action Party (DAP) in 1970, citing its multiracial platform funding the 1969 race riots.^[2][26] Tho' he planned to contest dignity 1974 general election in Penang, he withdrew after his father's death. However, Karpal was trustworthy by DAP national organising gossip columnist Fan Yew Teng to support for the Alor Setar legislative seat and the Alor Setar Bandar state seat.^[2] He won only the state seat, honourableness first DAP candidate to standin a seat in Kedah.^[27]

In rectitude 1978 general elections, Karpal won the Jelutong parliamentary seat tell the Bukit Gelugorstate seat. Without fear held the Bukit Gelugor roller seat until 1990, losing ensuing elections for the Sungai Pinang and Padang Kota seats.

In 1989, Karpal accused Deputy Demagogue D. P. Vijandran of presence in pornographic videos.^[28] Although authority allegations were dismissed due turn lack of evidence, Vijandran submissive the following year.^[29] In 1992, Karpal produced the alleged take in parliament and gave put a damper on things to Deputy Speaker Ong Verbally abuse Keat.^[29] Vijandran was convicted return May 1994 of fabricating authenticate in an affidavit seeking span court order to stop cap nephew from allegedly distributing salacious videotapes in which he appeared,^[30] but the conviction was upturned in 1998.^[31] In 2000, Karpal was ordered to pay Vijandran RM500,000 (reduced to RM100,000 questionable appeal) in damages for libel after he accused Vijandran decay cheque fraud.^[32][33]

Setback

In the 1999 determination, Karpal lost the Jelutong formal seat he had held watch over 21 years, and DAP commander Lim Kit Siang was along with defeated.^[21] The DAP had coupled Barisan Alternatif, an opposition union with Parti Keadilan and probity Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) (a move strongly supported by Karpal and Lim).^[34] Despite the pronouncement Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition's paltry losses in the election, Keadilan and PAS absorbed the takings as DAP support eroded in arrears to suspicion of PAS folk tale its hard-line Islamic stance.^[35] Even though the DAP gained seats, interpretation party performed well below destiny and Lim called the skimpy a "catastrophic defeat".^[36] Despite integrity setback, Karpal remained as dinner party deputy chairman and Lim became chairman after the resignation light long-serving chairman Chen Man Hin.^[37] Karpal strongly opposed a Gaffe plan to introduce hudud (Islamic codes of behavior) into position Terengganu state legal system assimilate 1999, threatening to take goodness state government to court.^[38]

Return combat Parliament

In the 2004 general referendum, Karpal returned to parliament become accustomed a 1,261-vote majority in justness new Bukit Gelugor seat.^[39] Nobleness DAP regained its position renovation the largest opposition party set a date for Parliament,^[40] and Karpal became righteousness party's national chairman on 4 September 2004.^[41]

On 7 September, yes was sanctioned for "misleading Parliament" after claiming that MPs abstruse to raise their right help out while they took the guarantee of office on 17 Haw. A report by the Legislative Rights and Privileges Committee gave Karpal three days to support or face a six-month suspension.^[6][42] He refused to apologise limit served the suspension.^[43][44]

Victories and controversy

Karpal retained his seat in loftiness 2008 election with a nearly-20-fold-vote increased majority (21,015 votes).^[45] Magnanimity election saw historic gains retrieve the opposition, who denied distinction ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) a two-thirds majority in Diet for the first time.^[46]

The triad major opposition parties formed straighten up coalition (the Pakatan Rakyat),^[47] captivated Karpal was listed as dignity DAP representative on the coalition's Shadow Ministry of Home Circumstances Committee in July 2009.^[48]

In Apr 2010, he was suspended use up parliament for ten days tail end he called the speaker orderly "dictator".^[49] In December of turn year, he and opposition personnel of parliament Anwar Ibrahim, Azmin Ali and Sivarasa Rasiah were suspended for six months. Anwar was suspended for stirring connected with controversy over government links satisfy APCO Worldwide, while the scatter were punished for publicising neat as a pin report by the Rights mount Privileges Committee finding Anwar criminal before the report was nip to Parliament.^[50]

In December 2011, Karpal and Penang second deputy central minister P. Ramasamy feuded go bad Ramasamy's reported accusation that dissidents in the DAP were forethought against him for not callused them projects and favours. Karpal called Ramasamy a "warlord" current asked for him to go as deputy chief minister.^[51] Ramasamy asked the party to abandon its "godfathers", an apparent glut to Karpal.^[51] The feud was resolved internally, and Ramasamy following denied ever making the accusation.^[52] At the DAP national talk in January 2012, Karpal married Ramasamy and asked the party's "warlords and godfathers [to] bow to together against Barisan Nasional."^[53]

Political views

Karpal Singh cited David Saul Lawman, Mahatma Gandhi and John Dictator. Kennedy as influences. The 13 May Incident convinced him deviate Malaysia needed to take adroit multiracial course, and he spliced the DAP in 1970. Karpal praised the country's first grade a minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman beg for promoting racial unity.^[2] He criticised the legal immunity granted motivate the hereditary Malay rulers pigs the original constitution, which was removed by Mahathir Mohamad management in 1993.^[4][54]

Karpal Singh opposed honesty idea of Malaysia as unsullied Islamic state, arguing that excellence constitution provided for a lay nation with Islam as probity official religion, and clashed touch Mahathir and fellow opposition special PAS over the issue.^[55] Karpal said "an Islamic state else my dead body" about illustriousness debate during a political speech,^[2] but later said that without fear had apologised for the remark.^[56]

Controversies and issues

Karpal was a polemical figure, and he and one DAP politician Lim Kit Siang have been referred to thanks to racial provocateurs.^[57] He was nicknamed "the Tiger of Jelutong" overstep admirers after serving five provisos as Jelutong MP.^[58] Karpal attributed the nickname to a encounter with former Malaysian Indian Copulation President Samy Vellu when forbidden said to Samy, "he could be the lion, and Raving could be the tiger, on account of there are no lions pointed Malaysia!"^[2]

Slurs

He clashed with government parliamentarians and assemblymen during debates. Vanity two occasions in the Penang State Assembly, the speaker labelled police to have Karpal detached from the chamber.^[13] Karpal total the police officers out both times, saying that they locked away no right to be concerning before walking out on realm own.^[13]

He criticised the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the Dewan Rakyat for allegedly assaulting two rank and file who were brought to goodness palace by police, which sparked demands for an apology use members of Parliament; Karpal refused.^[13] Karpal filed a lawsuit be realistic the king, Iskandar of Johor, in 1986 on behalf uphold one of the men. Do something lost, and the sultan reportedly named one of his belt after him.^[4]

Karpal served two six-month suspensions from Parliament: in Sept 2004 for "misleading" Parliament,^[43] with the addition of in December 2010 for contempt.^[50] During a May 2008 categorize, he called fellow parliamentarian Fasten Moktar Radin the "Bigfoot take from Kinabatangan".^[59] Moments later, Karpal was mocked by Ibrahim Ali current Bung Moktar Radin for empress inability to stand while administration as a result of queen disability (provoking a furore amidst opposition members).^[59] The following moon, he received a death warning foreboding in the form of systematic bullet delivered to his find fault with firm.^[60] In October, Karpal was suspended from Parliament for cardinal days for calling speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia "not serious" give orders to "playful".^[61]

Detentions

He and a number portend other opposition politicians were behindhand without trial under the State Security Act during Operation Lalang in October 1987 for aid "racial tension" in Malaysia.^[22] Karpal was released for several noonday in March 1988 in meet to a habeas corpus relevancy before being rearrested and confined until January 1989.^[4][62]Amnesty International callinged him a prisoner of conscience.^[22]

Sedition trials

Karpal, four other opposition politicians and the editor of birth Harakah Daily (the newspaper accessible by the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party) were arrested in Jan 2000 under the Sedition Act,^[21] and he was charged succumb making seditious remarks in have a crack during Anwar's first corruption trial.^[63] This, the only known insincere of sedition in any Nation country brought against a legal adviser for remarks made in chase in defence of a client,^[9] was dropped in 2002.^[9][64]

He was again charged under the Protest Act in March 2009 walk off with threatening to sue the Akund of swat of Perak, Sultan Azlan Unlimited, in the wake of leadership 2009 Perak constitutional crisis. Karpal had contended that the absolute had exceeded his constitutional wits in appointing Zambry Abdul KadirMenteri Besar.^[64][65] The charges were fired in June 2010 after rectitude High Court determined that blue blood the gentry prosecution had failed to confirm a prima facie case.^[66] But, the Court of Appeal contrary the acquittal in January 2012 and ordered Karpal to end a defence.^[67] In March 2019, 10 years after the episode the Federal Court acquitted Karpal posthumously.^[68]

Personal life

Family

Karpal married Gurmit Kaur, eight years his junior, contain July 1970. Gurmit's family, expend Narathiwat, Thailand, moved to Penang when she was seven.^[2][5] They had five children and 11 grandchildren.^[5] Karpal's eldest son, Jagdeep, is the Penang State Ambassador for Datok Keramat; his following son, Gobind, was the Missionary of Communications and Multimedia skull is the Member of Legislature for Puchong, Selangor. His bag son, Ramkarpal succeeded him significance the MP for Bukit Gelugor after his death. His damsel, Sangeet Kaur works in government law firm and his youngest son, Man Karpal studied actuarial science.^[2]

Gurmit described Karpal's detention use 1987 to 1989 as uncluttered "very big experience", which took a toll on her convinced because she had to "be strong" for their young children.^[8] The initial stage of culminate disability also deeply upset her.^[5] Karpal and Gurmit lived play a role Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur, unapproachable 1994 until his death.^[5]

Accident impressive disability

On 28 January 2005, Karpal was involved in an casualty which left him in copperplate wheelchair.^[69][70][71] A car struck practised taxi in which he was seated from behind, severely bruising his thoracic vertebrae. The projection left Karpal with sensory imperfection and reduced motor strength, squeeze he was unable to jump or raise his right unsettle more than a few centimeters.^[5][58][60] His seat in the lawgiving chamber was moved to decency back row to accommodate tiara wheelchair.^[58]

Death and funeral

In the obvious hours of 17 April 2014, Karpal died in a auto crash on the North–South Pike E1 near Gua Tempurung, Perak. His personal assistant, Michael Cornelius, was also killed in glory accident. Ramkarpal (Karpal's son extract one of the minivan's fin occupants) and an Indonesian maiden believed to have been hired by Karpal were injured.^[72] Decency driver of the minivan was injured as well. Karpal's Toyota Alphard collided with the to one side side of a slow-moving, five-tonne Mitsubishi Canter lorry carrying disparage, steel, and tiles. Although justness lorry driver (identified as Abu Mansor Mohd) tested positive grip cannabis, it was uncertain providing he was under influence go back the time of the accident.^[73] According to Bukit Aman traffic-police chief SAC Mohd Fuad Abdul Latiff, road conditions and grandeur weather were good at magnanimity time of the accident.^[73]

Karpal's interment was held on 20 Apr 2014 with full state honors in Penang, attended by dominion Family, Prime Minister Najib Razak and other mourners.^[74] His item reached the Batu Gantong Mortuary, George Town, Penang at 1:35 pm and was cremated after a lot of mourners chanted his name.^[75] His son, Gobind, memorialised him on 5 May during high-mindedness last of a series quite a lot of tributes.^[76]

Memorials, awards and accolades

On 19 April 2014, two days pinpoint his death, the IJM Ramble in Lebuh Sungai Pinang was renamed Karpal Singh Drive (Persiaran Karpal Singh).^[77]The Full Biography: Karpal Singh, Tiger of Jelutong via Tim Donoghue, published in 2014 by Marshal Cavendish International, anticipation an updated edition of Donoghue's Karpal Singh: Tiger of Jelutong which published prior to surmount death.^[78][79][80] Karpal received the Dazzle of India Award of Fineness in 2011, and was subject of the top 10 NRI Newsmakers of 2008.^[81][82]

Election results

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

See also

References