Media Statement by Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, 17 April 2014:
DAP National Leader, 8-term Member of Parliament and formerly 4-term state assembly man in Kedah and Penang, Sdr Karpal Singh will forever be remembered as a Malaysian patriot who stood valiantly for justice, integrity and freedom without fear or favour
This morning, Malaysians were mourn the untimely and unexpected passing of DAP National Leader and Member of Parliament for Bukit Gelugor, Sdr Karpal Singh.
Sdr Karpal is a 8-term Member of Parliament of the Bukit Gelugor and Jelutong, as well as a 4 term state assemblyman in Kedah and Penang, first elected in 1974. For 40-years, Sdr Karpal dedicated his life to fighting for justice.
With his passing, the DAP has lost an upstanding and outstanding leader, the nation lost a brilliant legal mind and the rakyat a fearless “tiger” with an indomitable spirit who stood up for the poor, weak defenceless and dispossesed.
Sdr Karpal was detained without trial for 18 months in Operasi Lallang under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) in 1988. I had the honour of spending my time in the same detention dormitory with him in Kamunting Detention Camp and he suffered from severe spinal back pains but refused to yield. Together with his close comrade, Sdr Lim Kit Siang, he faced down then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Karpal suffered an unfortunate accident in 2005 which paralysed him waist-down.
However his indomitable spirit not only helped him overcame this paralysis but allowed him to conti nue his cause for DAP for a better Malaysia. Sdr Karpal became 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.
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.
In respect and honour of the memory of Sdr Karpal, the DAP shall postpone all party events and functions nationwide to a date after the funeral. All DAP offices shall also fly our flags at half-mast for a week to mourn for our great loss.
DAP shall establish a National Funeral Committee headed by DAP Acting National Chairman, Sdr Tan Kok Wai at the national level, while DAP Penang Chairman Sdr Chow Kon Yeow shall lead the Penang State Funeral Committee. Both Sdr Tan and Sdr Chow shall announce the members and the details of the funeral arrangements later consulting with family members.
The wake will be held at Sdr Karpal Singh’s home in 144A Jalan Utama, Penang from 3pm today. The funeral cortege will commence at 11am on Sunday 20 April to the Batu Gantong Crematorium in Penang.
Lim Guan Eng
——Mandarin Version —-
民主行动党秘书长林冠英于2014年4月17日在吉隆坡发表声明：
卡巴星身为民主行动党全国领袖、曾在吉打、槟城担任过8届国会议员、4届州议员，我们将永远记得，他是那么地无畏无惧，永远站在正义、廉正及自由一方的爱国马来西亚人。
今早，全国人民都在为行动党全国领袖及武吉牛汝莪国会议员卡巴星同志的骤然逝世哀悼。
卡巴星首次在1974年当选议员。曾在牛汝莪及日落洞国会选区担任过8届的国会议员，也在吉打及槟城担任过4届州议员。过去40年，他一直献身于公义的斗争。
随着他的逝世，行动党失去了一名正直及优秀的领袖，国民也失去了一名精通法律、无畏无惧的“老虎”，他常常不屈不挠为贫穷、弱势群体仗义直言。
卡巴星曾在1988年“茅草行动”，被当局援引内安法令扣留了18个月。我曾有那样的荣幸，与他一起在甘文丁扣留营中共患难，当时他承受着脊椎的病痛，也不愿屈服。他与战友林吉祥一样，在面对当时的首相敦马哈迪医生时不亢不卑。
卡巴星在2005年经历过一场车祸浩劫，导致他下半身瘫痪。他那不屈不挠的精神不只让他克服了瘫痪的病痛，还让他继续为更美好的马来西亚斗争。卡巴星成为第一位两次以多数票中选为国会议员的残障人士。
卡巴星刚刚在上个月被判触犯煽动法令，他的案件还在上诉当中。但是，这些牢灾及阻碍并没有他让害怕，他依然 为一个不分种族、不分宗教的“马来西亚人的马来西亚”斗争。
他的离去不只让他家人的生活从此留下一个无法填补的空缺， 也让全体受他为原则斗争而启发的马来西亚人的心中留下一个缺口。
对于卡巴星的家人，行动党与你们一样悲恸，希望你们节哀。
为了表达我们对卡巴星同志敬意，行动党将把全国的党活动展延至葬礼过后。所有的行动党办公室将通过党旗下一旗一个星期致哀。
行动党将成为以代主席陈国伟同志为首的全国治丧委员会。槟州治丧委员会将以行动党主席曹观友为首。陈国伟及曹观友两人将在与卡巴星家属商量后，较后向党员及公众公布治丧的详情。
守夜活动将从今天下午3点与卡巴星的槟城住家144A Jalan Utama, 开始。星期日（4月20日）早上11点举殡，遗体将送行白云山殡仪馆火化。
林冠英