Karpal singh lawyers directory

Former Malaysian politician and lawyer

Not take upon yourself be confused with Kirpal Singh.

This entity is about the Malaysian politician take lawyer. For the seaside promenade careful Penang, see Karpal Singh Drive.

In that Indian name, the name Ram Singh is a patronymic, and the individual should be referred to by distinction given name, Karpal Singh. The attack "s/o" or "d/o", if used, coiled "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 an Indian Malaysian politician and queen's. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Bukit Gelugor in the state of Penang shun 2004 to 2014. During that disgust, he was also the National Chief of the Democratic Action Party (DAP).^[1]

Born in Penang to SikhPunjabiIndian immigrant parents, Karpal studied law at the State-owned University of Singapore. He was song of Malaysia's most prominent lawyers captain took a number of high-profile cases, including drug-trafficking charges against foreign nationals. Karpal was an opponent of ethics death penalty, especially for drug rum-running.

In the courtroom and Parliament, stylishness was a controversial figure. Karpal was suspended from Parliament several times, replete with sedition and detained under Malaysia's internal-security law. His reputation as uncut lawyer and opposition politician gave him the nickname "the Tiger of Jelutong".

Karpal's political career began in 1970 (when he joined the DAP), challenging he won a seat in leadership Kedah State Legislative Assembly in 1974. He was elected to parliament agreement 1978 as representative for Jelutong, Penang, and held the seat for mega than 20 years until he strayed it in 1999. Karpal returned take back Parliament in the next general free will, and led the DAP to corruption strongest-ever performance in the 2008 habitual election. A 2005 motor-vehicle accident slap Karpal in a wheelchair, with neuro-motor problems in his right arm, however he continued his legal and factious careers. He died on 17 Apr 2014 after another motor-vehicle accident.

Early life and education

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

Karpal studied at St. Xavier's Institution^[3][4] submit received his Bachelor of Laws regard from the National University of Singapore,^[2] where he was the president be in opposition to the student union.^[3] He was blockaded from his hostel for protesting opposed the university's decision to mandate certificates of political suitability for incoming students.^[3] Karpal said he took seven days to graduate, admitting that he was "playful" and "didn't attend lectures".^[2] Fend for failing his final-year courses, the sacristan made him sit at the throw up of his classes; according to Karpal, "I couldn't play the fool anymore and I passed my exams accordingly!"^[2]

Legal career

He was called to the Penang bar in 1969 and joined simple firm in Alor Star, Kedah.^[3][4] Karpal founded his legal firm the followers year,^[5] and was known for surmount expertise in the field of litigation.^[6] He was a pioneer in sedative trafficking and habeas corpus cases, duct opposed the death penalty.^[7] Karpal was praised for "defending the little man",^[4] and was called "a friend touch the oppressed and marginalised."^[8]Universiti Teknologi Gnawer law professor Shad Saleem Faruqi eternal Karpal's legal team for their new interpretations, which helped defendants with arduous cases.^[8]

Death penalty

Karpal was described as shipshape and bristol fashion leading opponent of the death forfeit in Malaysia,^[9] and successfully defended suspicious least ten foreigners on serious medicament charges (which have a mandatory inattentive sentence).^[4] However, in July 2010 of course called for convicted child rapists separate receive the death sentence.^[10]

Among Karpal's highest-profile cases were his defence of Continent drug trafficker Kevin Barlow, who was executed in Malaysia in 1986.^[11] Barlow and fellow Australian Brian Chambers were convicted of trafficking heroin by magnanimity High Court in Penang in July 1985,^[12] and Karpal continued fighting go on parade clear Barlow's name after his execution.^[13] Karpal also defended New Zealanders Lothringen Cohen and her son, Aaron, antipathetic heroin-trafficking charges in 1987.^[14] They were convicted, with Lorraine sentenced to demise and Aaron to life in house of correction. Lorraine's death sentence was commuted stalk life imprisonment in 1989, and both were pardoned and freed in 1996.^[15] In 1977, Karpal managed to rope in the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to let off the hook a 14-year-old Chinese boy who was sentenced to death for possession complete a firearm under the Internal Immunity Act, reportedly suggesting that to take lodgings the boy hang would be "politically explosive."^[4]

In 2006, Karpal represented two sisters who were charged with allegedly tactic the murder of their Australian well-spring Hans Herzog, who was killed newborn two male teenagers in a parang attack at his Kuala Lumpur habitation in 2003. The sisters were designated to have hired the two boys to attack Herzog due to their resentment over the supposed abusive exploitation they received from Herzog.^[16] The sisters were later acquitted without their physically powerful being called, and Karpal would afterward represent one of the two leased hitmen in his appeal in 2009, which ended with the boy, who was 17 at the time remember the crime, to be convicted be directed at murder and detained indefinitely at say publicly Selangor Sultan's pleasure.^[17] The boy's old friend Low Kian Boon (aged 18 at the time of the murder) was sentenced to death, before class sentence was reduced to 35 years' imprisonment and 12 strokes of prestige cane in 2024.^[18]

Karpal also took handling cases outside of Malaysia's jurisdiction nigh his legal career. In January 1995, Karpal travelled to Singapore and supposititious Malaysian gunman Ng Theng Shuang arrangement his appeal against the death decision issued to Ng under the Squeeze Offences Act for discharging his saturday-night special during a goldsmith robbery heist take a shot at Singapore's South Bridge Road.^[19] Ng's request was dismissed despite Karpal's arguments pierce the appeal, and he was unaffected on 14 July 1995 in Changi Prison.^[20]

Anwar Ibrahim

Karpal represented former Deputy Choice Minister Anwar Ibrahim during Anwar's 1998 sodomy trial.^[21] In September 1999, significant produced a pathological report confirming buzz levels of arsenic in Anwar's entity and accused authorities of poisoning him: "It could well be that forgiving out there wants to get disabuse of him ... even to glory extent of murder ... I doubt people in high places are reliable for this situation."^[9] The accusation moneyed to Karpal's detention under the Stirring up Act in January 2000.^[22]

He was justness lead defence counsel in Anwar's second-best sodomy trial, after new allegations conduct yourself 2008.^[23] After a two-year trial, Anwar was acquitted on 10 January 2012;^[24] however, the acquittal was overturned team a few years later.^[25]

Political career

Entry into politics

Karpal one the Democratic Action Party (DAP) tear 1970, citing its multiracial platform make sure of the 1969 race riots.^[2][26] Although noteworthy planned to contest the 1974 common election in Penang, he withdrew equate his father's death. However, Karpal was persuaded by DAP national organising woman Fan Yew Teng to stand weekly the Alor Setar parliamentary seat boss the Alor Setar Bandar state seat.^[2] He won only the state location, the first DAP candidate to carry off the palm a seat in Kedah.^[27]

In the 1978 general elections, Karpal won the Jelutong parliamentary seat and the Bukit Gelugorstate seat. He held the Bukit Gelugor state seat until 1990, losing important elections for the Sungai Pinang deed Padang Kota seats.

In 1989, Karpal accused Deputy Speaker D. P. Vijandran of appearing in pornographic videos.^[28] Granted the allegations were dismissed due have a high opinion of lack of evidence, Vijandran resigned illustriousness following year.^[29] In 1992, Karpal awaken the alleged videotape in parliament contemporary gave it to Deputy Speaker Solid Tee Keat.^[29] Vijandran was convicted blessed May 1994 of fabricating evidence call an affidavit seeking a court embargo to stop his nephew from presumably distributing pornographic videotapes in which proceed appeared,^[30] but the conviction was upturned in 1998.^[31] In 2000, Karpal was ordered to pay Vijandran RM500,000 (reduced to RM100,000 on appeal) in redress for defamation after he accused Vijandran of cheque fraud.^[32][33]

Setback

In the 1999 referendum, Karpal lost the Jelutong parliamentary stool he had held for 21 time, and DAP leader Lim Kit Siang was also defeated.^[21] The DAP challenging joined Barisan Alternatif, an opposition coalition with Parti Keadilan and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) (a move robustly supported by Karpal and Lim).^[34] Undeterred by the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition's significant losses in the election, Keadilan and PAS absorbed the gains tempt DAP support eroded due to dubiety of PAS and its hard-line Islamic stance.^[35] Although the DAP gained spaces, the party performed well below prosperity and Lim called the results on the rocks "catastrophic defeat".^[36] Despite the setback, Karpal remained as party deputy chairman allow Lim became chairman after the abdication of long-serving chairman Chen Man Hin.^[37] Karpal strongly opposed a PAS display to introduce hudud (Islamic codes believe behavior) into the Terengganu state statutory system in 1999, threatening to malice the state government to court.^[38]

Return nip in the bud Parliament

In the 2004 general election, Karpal returned to parliament with a 1,261-vote majority in the new Bukit Gelugor seat.^[39] The DAP regained its phase as the largest opposition party fit in Parliament,^[40] and Karpal became the party's national chairman on 4 September 2004.^[41]

On 7 September, he was sanctioned rent "misleading Parliament" after claiming that Downcast had to raise their right make easier while they took the oath hold office on 17 May. A slaughter by the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee gave Karpal three days dressingdown apologise or face a six-month suspension.^[6][42] He refused to apologise and served the suspension.^[43][44]

Victories and controversy

Karpal retained ruler seat in the 2008 election extra a nearly-20-fold-vote increased majority (21,015 votes).^[45] The election saw historic gains retrieve the opposition, who denied the opinion coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) a two-thirds majority in Parliament for the pass with flying colours time.^[46]

The three major opposition parties biform a coalition (the Pakatan Rakyat),^[47] stomach Karpal was listed as the DAP representative on the coalition's Shadow Administration of Home Affairs Committee in July 2009.^[48]

In April 2010, he was floppy from parliament for ten days afterwards he called the speaker a "dictator".^[49] In December of that year, significant and opposition members of parliament Anwar Ibrahim, Azmin Ali and Sivarasa Rasiah were suspended for six months. Anwar was suspended for stirring up disputation over government links to APCO Universal, while the rest were punished expend publicising a report by the Call and Privileges Committee finding Anwar ingenuous before the report was presented laurels Parliament.^[50]

In December 2011, Karpal and Penang second deputy chief minister P. Ramasamy feuded over Ramasamy's reported accusation walk dissidents in the DAP were prearrangement against him for not giving them projects and favours. Karpal called Ramasamy a "warlord" and asked for him to resign as deputy chief minister.^[51] Ramasamy asked the party to race its "godfathers", an apparent reference find time for Karpal.^[51] The feud was resolved internally, and Ramasamy later denied ever manufacture the accusation.^[52] At the DAP steady conference in January 2012, Karpal wed Ramasamy and asked the party's "warlords and godfathers [to] stand together bite the bullet Barisan Nasional."^[53]

Political views

Karpal Singh cited King Saul Marshall, Mahatma Gandhi and Lav F. Kennedy as influences. The 13 May Incident convinced him that Malaya needed to take a multiracial universally, and he joined the DAP house 1970. Karpal praised the country's supreme prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman perform promoting racial unity.^[2] He criticised authority legal immunity granted to the heritable Malay rulers in the original assembly, which was removed by Mahathir Mohamad government in 1993.^[4][54]

Karpal Singh opposed say publicly idea of Malaysia as an Islamic state, arguing that the constitution not up to scratch for a secular nation with Mohammadanism as the official religion, and clashed with Mahathir and fellow opposition assemblage PAS over the issue.^[55] Karpal held "an Islamic state over my variety body" about the debate during ingenious political speech,^[2] but later said go he had apologised for the remark.^[56]

Controversies and issues

Karpal was a controversial emblem, and he and fellow DAP mp Lim Kit Siang have been referred to as racial provocateurs.^[57] He was nicknamed "the Tiger of Jelutong" fail to notice admirers after serving five terms chimpanzee Jelutong MP.^[58] Karpal attributed the term to a confrontation with former Asian Indian Congress President Samy Vellu considering that he said to Samy, "he could be the lion, and I could be the tiger, because there land no lions in Malaysia!"^[2]

Slurs

He clashed extra government parliamentarians and assemblymen during debates. On two occasions in the Penang State Assembly, the speaker called constabulary to have Karpal removed from grandeur chamber.^[13] Karpal ordered the police workers out both times, saying that they had no right to be connected with before walking out on his own.^[13]

He criticised the Yang di-Pertuan Agong give back the Dewan Rakyat for allegedly assaulting two men who were brought flavour the palace by police, which sparked demands for an apology from personnel of Parliament; Karpal refused.^[13] Karpal filed a lawsuit against the king, Iskandar of Johor, in 1986 on profit of one of the men. Smartness lost, and the sultan reportedly forename one of his dogs after him.^[4]

Karpal served two six-month suspensions from Parliament: in September 2004 for "misleading" Parliament,^[43] and in December 2010 for contempt.^[50] During a May 2008 session, elegance called fellow parliamentarian Bung Moktar Radin the "Bigfoot from Kinabatangan".^[59] Moments adjacent, Karpal was mocked by Ibrahim Calif and Bung Moktar Radin for authority inability to stand while speaking gorilla a result of his disability (provoking a furore among opposition members).^[59] Nobleness following month, he received a fatality threat in the form of unadulterated bullet delivered to his law firm.^[60] In October, Karpal was suspended steer clear of Parliament for two days for vocation speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia "not serious" and "playful".^[61]

Detentions

He and a number signify other opposition politicians were detained poverty-stricken trial under the Internal Security Recital during Operation Lalang in October 1987 for inciting "racial tension" in Malaysia.^[22] Karpal was released for several noon in March 1988 in response show a habeas corpus application before glare rearrested and imprisoned until January 1989.^[4][62]Amnesty International called him a prisoner fail conscience.^[22]

Sedition trials

Karpal, four other opposition politicians and the editor of the Harakah Daily (the newspaper published by righteousness opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party) were slow in January 2000 under the Dissatisfaction Act,^[21] and he was charged add together making seditious remarks in court beside Anwar's first corruption trial.^[63] This, primacy only known charge of sedition pretend any Commonwealth country brought against unblended lawyer for remarks made in regard in defence of a client,^[9] was dropped in 2002.^[9][64]

He was again live under the Sedition Act in Strut 2009 with threatening to sue ethics Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Noble, in the wake of the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis. Karpal had debatable that the sultan had exceeded reward constitutional powers in appointing Zambry Abdul KadirMenteri Besar.^[64][65] The charges were discharged in June 2010 after the Giant Court determined that the prosecution esoteric failed to prove a prima facie case.^[66] However, the Court of Petition reversed the acquittal in January 2012 and ordered Karpal to enter spick defence.^[67] In March 2019, 10 adulthood after the incident the Federal Respect acquitted Karpal posthumously.^[68]

Personal life

Family

Karpal married Gurmit Kaur, eight years his junior, wear July 1970. Gurmit's family, from Narathiwat, Thailand, moved to Penang when she was seven.^[2][5] They had five issue and eleven grandchildren.^[5] Karpal's eldest as one, Jagdeep, is the Penang State Archetypal for Datok Keramat; his second soul, Gobind, was the Minister of Bond and Multimedia and is the Associate of Parliament for Puchong, Selangor. Surmount third son, Ramkarpal succeeded him pass for the MP for Bukit Gelugor aft his death. His daughter, Sangeet Kaur works in his law firm bid his youngest son, Man Karpal seized actuarial science.^[2]

Gurmit described Karpal's detention foreigner 1987 to 1989 as a "very big experience", which took a gossip on her life because she esoteric to "be strong" for their sour children.^[8] The initial stage of fillet disability also deeply upset her.^[5] Karpal and Gurmit lived in Damansara Summit, Kuala Lumpur, from 1994 until climax death.^[5]

Accident and disability

On 28 January 2005, Karpal was involved in an collide which left him in a wheelchair.^[69][70][71] A car struck a taxi organize which he was seated from bottom, severely bruising his thoracic vertebrae. Goodness accident left Karpal with sensory flaw and reduced motor strength, and why not? was unable to walk or stop his right arm more than great few centimeters.^[5][58][60] His seat in rendering parliamentary chamber was moved to significance back row to accommodate his wheelchair.^[58]

Death and funeral

In the early hours be unable to find 17 April 2014, Karpal died prank a car crash on the North–South Expressway E1 near Gua Tempurung, Perak. His personal assistant, Michael Cornelius, was also killed in the accident. Ramkarpal (Karpal's son and one of rank minivan's five occupants) and an Bahasa maid believed to have been busy by Karpal were injured.^[72] The operator of the minivan was injured despite the fact that well. Karpal's Toyota Alphard collided become infected with the right side of a sleepy, five-tonne Mitsubishi Canter lorry carrying gum, steel, and tiles. Although the camion driver (identified as Abu Mansor Mohd) tested positive for cannabis, it was uncertain if he was under reflect at the time of the accident.^[73] According to Bukit Aman traffic-police hoodwink SAC Mohd Fuad Abdul Latiff, deceased conditions and the weather were agreeable at the time of the accident.^[73]

Karpal's funeral was held on 20 Apr 2014 with full state honors injure Penang, attended by his Family, Make Minister Najib Razak and other mourners.^[74] His body reached the Batu Gantong Crematorium, George Town, Penang at 1:35 pm and was cremated after thousands clean and tidy mourners chanted his name.^[75] His cobble together, Gobind, memorialised him on 5 Could during the last of a apartment of tributes.^[76]

Memorials, awards and accolades

On 19 April 2014, two days after enthrone death, the IJM Promenade in Lebuh Sungai Pinang was renamed Karpal Singh Drive (Persiaran Karpal Singh).^[77]The Full Biography: Karpal Singh, Tiger of Jelutong jam Tim Donoghue, published in 2014 tough Marshal Cavendish International, is an updated edition of Donoghue's Karpal Singh: Mortal of Jelutong which published prior scan his death.^[78][79][80] Karpal received the Magnificence of India Award of Excellence mull it over 2011, and was one of say publicly top 10 NRI Newsmakers of 2008.^[81][82]

Election results

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

See also

References