GEORGE TOWN, April 18 — Karpal Singh’s loyal aide Michael Cornelius Selvam Vellu, who also died in the accident that killed Karpal yesterday, was almost like Karpal’s “other half”.

The trained nurse from India first started working for Karpal back in 2005 after Karpal sustained injuries in an accident in front of his house that had left him wheelchair-bound.

“Michael never left Karpal’s side since then and was like Karpal’s “other half” even towards the end,” shared Karpal’s long-time aide and former driver Jeffrey Scully.

The 39-year-old was remembered by many who knew him as a jovial and cheerful man who loved to tell jokes.

“What was most striking about Michael was his ever-ready wide grin,” Scully said.

He said it was Michael’s mild temper and jovial character that made him the perfect match to take care of Karpal.

“Karpal has quite a temper and when he wants something done, it must be done immediately and Michael with his wide grin in reply to anything was the only one who could bear the wrath of his temper,” he said.

Michael had taken care of all of Karpal’s needs from pushing his wheelchair to handling his petty cash in all these years as Karpal’s personal aide and nurse.

“Michael was the one to hold his cash and handled all the payments for him whenever he goes outside and needed to pay for anything,” Scully said.

Michael came from Vellore, Tamil Nadu in southern India and his wife, a son and a daughter are living there.

Scully said it was obvious that Karpal loved Michael as part of his family.

“Michael was not just an aide or a nurse, he was family,” he said.

The depth of his loyalty to Karpal was so deep that it was said that he stayed with him even in death.

Karpal’s family also set up a donation box in memory of Michael at Karpal’s wake in his house here.

Michael’s body is expected to be flown back to India on Monday.

“Some family members will accompany Michael’s body to India for the burial,” Scully said.