KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — Karpal Singh stayed an “indomitable spirit” throughout his political career, refusing to yield even when prison life caused him severe spinal pains or when his 2005 accident paralysed him for life, Lim Guan Eng said.

Recalling his days with the man known as the “Tiger of Jelutong”, Lim, who was Karpal’s cellmate during their detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA), said his party senior dedicated over four decades of his life to defend the weak and uphold justice.

He said when they were serving time under Operasi Lalang at the Kamunting Detention Camp in Perak, Karpal suffered from a bad back.

“But (he) refused to yield. Together with his close comrade, Sdr Lim Kit Siang, he faced down then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” Lim said in a statement here.

An unfortunate accident in 2005 subsequently paralysed Karpal from waist-down but Lim said the politician stayed true to his struggles and went on to become the first disabled person to be elected twice to Parliament with huge majorities.

“Sdr Karpal has only just been convicted under the Sedition Act last month and is still in the midst of appealing his case.

“However, none of these incarceration and obstacles could make him yield in the struggle for a Malaysian Malaysia regardless of race and religion,” Lim added.

With Karpal’s sudden death today, Malaysia has lost a “fearless ‘tiger’” and brilliant lawyer who had defended the weak, he said.

Lim said that Karpal’s long and colourful career saw him serve a total of eight terms as federal lawmaker in Jelutong and Bukit Gelugor in Penang, and four terms as a state assemblyman in Kedah and Penang, since he was first elected in 1974 as Alor Setar Bandar state representative in Kedah.

“For 40 years, Sdr Karpal dedicated his life to fighting for justice,” he said.

“His departure will not only leave an immense void not only in his family’s lives, but also in those of all Malaysians whose lives have been inspired by his principled cause.

“To Sdr Karpal’s family, the DAP shares your grief in this time of bereavement with deepest sympathies and condolences,” he added.

A wake will be held at Karpal’s home in Penang today, while the funeral will be held on Sunday.

Karpal, DAP’s MP for Bukit Gelugor, 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 about 1.10am.

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

Karpal was believed to be travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang for a court hearing this morning.

Born in Penang on June 28, 1940, Karpal graduated with a law degree from the University of Singapore and joined the DAP in 1970.

He ran for Parliament in the 1978 general election and won the federal seat for Jelutong, which he held for five terms. Karpal lost in Jelutong in 1999 national polls and contested in Bukit Gelugor for the first time in 2004 and in subsequent elections.

Karpal leaves behind a wife, five children and 11 grandchildren.

* Note: An earlier version of this story erroneously reported that Karpal has four grandchildren. It has since been corrected. The error is much regretted.