IPOH, April 20 — ”Michael was nothing short of an angel”. 

That is the poignant description given by Sangeet Kaur Deo about Michael Cornelius, the assistant to Karpal Singh.

“From the day Michael worked with my father, he fasted every Tuesday as his personal vow so that my father could walk again,” said Karpal’s daughter, Sangeet when met at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital yesterday where a special prayer service was held for the Indian national before his body was taken to the KL International Airport to be flown back home to his wife and family. 

“He was a vegetarian and a man of faith. He carried the Bible on him and prayed all the time,” she said. 

Sangeet related that on Wednesday afternoon, the day before the accident, her father and Michael were jovial in the Kuala Lumpur office. 

“They were laughing and joking with the office staff when my father said ‘without Michael, I would be dead’ to which Michael replied ‘without Boss, I would be dead’,” she said and stopped as she remembered the tragic accident. 

Michael had taken care of Karpal for the past nine years since Karpal was injured in a car accident. 

He is famously remembered as being the person who pushed Karpal everywhere in his wheelchair. 

Michael also ran errands for Karpal including fetching court documents and buying meals. 

Sangeet and her brother Ramkarpal, who was injured in the accident, were at the Forensics Department at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital for the service, after which Michael’s coffin was draped with a DAP party flag before it was prepared for his journey home.

A staunch Catholic, Michael’s prayer service was conducted by communion ministers from Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Silibin.

“I am glad the DAP flag was draped over his coffin. He deserves it and he was so loyal to my father,” said Sangeet.

Ramkarpal aptly described Michael as “the one and only Michael”.

“He was a gem. He never grumbled, always smiled and is irreplaceable,” he said. 

Michaels remains were taken to KLIA immediately after the service for a flight to Chennai, India via Malaysia Airlines.

“His family will be waiting to receive him,” added Ramkarpal.

Ipoh Barat MP Thomas Su said draping the party flag on Michael’s coffin was an honour to him for being such a faithful and loyal person to Karpal.