GEORGE TOWN, April 19 — The late Karpal Singh was a principled leader who fought for inclusivity and opposed religious and racial division, Penang’s Bishop Emeritus Antony Selvanayagam said today.
Antony, who was the Bishop for Diocese of Penang from 1980 until his retirement in 2012, observed that the whole country was mourning the loss of the DAP veteran and added that even in death, Karpal proved to be a leader who could unite the people.
“He fought for justice, he was opposed to racial and religious divides... many more will be able to say that ‘I want to be like Karpal’,” he told reporters outside Karpal’s home here.
Antony, along with his successor Sebastian Francis and Archbishop Emeritus Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam, had joined the multitude of Malaysians of all stripes and colours to pay their last respects to the Bukit Gelugor MP who was killed in an early morning car crash on April 17.
“The type of response people have given after his passing... is a real answer for those who want a 1 Malaysia,” Selvanayagam added, saying that Karpal’s struggle when he was alive epitomised DAP’s “Malaysian Malaysia” concept of equality.
Karpal, 74, 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 Thursday.
Karpal, who was seated in the front passenger seat, died on the spot, together with his long-time assistant, Michael Cornelius.
Karpal will receive a state funeral in Penang tomorrow.
Note: An earlier version of this story erroneously reported that Karpal has four grandchildren. It has since been corrected. The error is much regretted.
