KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 ― In a scene reminiscent of last Sunday's state funeral in Penang, thousands turned up at last night’s memorial service to pay respects to the late Karpal Singh, a man described by friends and family members as unwavering, principled and a person of many hats ― father, friend, lawyer and politician.

The Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), which on any given day could accommodate 3,000 people, was packed to the rafters by the time the time the service kicked off at 8pm.

When organisers handed out dozens of booklets and postcards bearing the familiar face of the “Tiger of Jelutong” and his famous quotes, the crowd scrambled for their copies.

Many supporters came bearing white flowers as a tribute to the former DAP national chairman. They laid them before the huge portrait of the man himself that was set up on the main stage.

When it was his turn on the microphone, Karpal's son Gobind Singh Deo stared speechless at the crowd gathered before him for several seconds before he could speak.

Gobind, a lawyer and politician like his father, first thanked those who had turned up for the service and those who attended Karpal’s three-day wake and funeral in Penang last week.

“All of you gave the tiger the send-off he deserved. Our family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts,” Gobind said to loud applause from the crowd.

He said he was thankful to God for blessing him with a father like Karpal, and that growing up with his love and guidance was a true “privilege.”

“You never know when is the last time you would meet someone… really never ready to lose them,” the Puchong MP said, his voice hushed.

Human rights lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, who grew up with Gobind and his older brother Jagdeep Singh Deo, described “Uncle Karpal” as a close family friend who would “protect” them when they were up to mischief in their teenage years.

“He was the coolest person I knew,” Malik said, adding that he also remembered how both Gobind and Jagdeep's bedroom walls were adorned with newspaper clippings of their father's achievements.

Karpal's achievements as a lawyer was a roadmap to the evolution of criminal and constitutional law in Malaysia, Malik said, adding that the veteran lawyer had always been “unfaltering and unwavering” in his commitment to fight for the rights of every Malaysian.

“The memory of Mr Karpal makes me proud to be part of the Malaysian Bar. He had unshakeable belief in our constitutional system,” the lawyer said.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called Karpal an “affectionate brother” who never hesitated to give him a “thorough lashing in public” when they disagreed on something.

“But when push comes to shove, Karpal will always be at your side. He was a man of unimpeachable moral integrity, he never used dirty tricks,” said the PKR de facto leader.

The memorial service ended at 11pm but mourners continued to stream into the packed hall, many queueing up to place flowers in front of Karpal’s portrait.

On April 17, Karpal was killed on-the-spot together with long-time aide Michael Cornelius at 1.10am, when the MPV in which they were travelling with three others from Kuala Lumpur to Penang collided with a lorry along the North-South Highway near Gopeng, Perak.