BN and Pakatan leaders throng Karpal's wake

BN and Pakatan Rakyat leaders continued to pay their last respects to Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh.

At 10.30am, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri came by, saying she fondly remembered Karpal as a "very professional politician and lawyer".

"Even when he tabled the motion on judges in Parliament, Karpal never mentioned his Sedition case," she  told reporters.

Some 30 minutes later, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali stopped by with his entourage of state leaders.

Accompanying him were state executive councillors Abdul Malik Kassim and Dr Afif Bahardin, and party women’s chief Zuraida Kamaruddin.

"Karpal defended me when I was asked to leave the Parliament proceedings when the motion on judges the judiciary was tabled, I will always remember that," Azmin said.

That was the day when Pakatan leaders staged a walkout from the Dewan Rakyat in support of Azmin, who is also Gombak MP and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyperson

State Opposition Leader Jahara Hamid also came by at about 11am with several Umno assemblypersons including Shahedan Kassim (Teluk Bahang) and Roslan Saidin (Pinang Tunggal).

"He was never personal, he was beyond that," Jahara said.

Even before 10am, Karpal’s family had opened their gates and the public lined up to pay their last respects to the veteran lawyer.

Party flag draped on coffin

Around noon, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, his father Gelang Patah MP Kit Siang and a host of other DAP leaders arrived and draped a party flag over the coffin.

State DAP chairperson Chow Kon Yeow said Karpal's cortege will leave his home in Jalan Utama at about 8 am on Sunday.

His cortege will arrive at the Dewan Sri Pinang an hour later where the public can pay their last respects for two hours. His remains will then be taken to the Batu Gantung cremation centre.

"His cortege will stop at several sites which are of significance to Karpal like the Penang High Court and St Xavier's Institution on Light Street, the state assembly legislative building along Farquhar street and his own legal office on Jalan Greenhall," Chow said.

He added that the St Xavier's Institution band will accompany the cortege.

The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) Penang branch leaders, who were also at the wake, remembered Karpal as a champion of workers' rights.

"His advice, guidance were invaluable to us. He was always a fighter for the downtrodden and the underprivileged," said MTUC secretary K Veeriah.

MTUC state chief S Ravindran said Karpal was "beyond colour".

"He acknowledged everyone, regardless of their race or social standing," he added.

Family overwhelmed with public support

Karpal’s eldest son, Jagdeep, said his father never asked for recognition when he was alive but the family is overwhelmed with the public support shown thus far.

“We thank everyone for the support, my mobile phone broke down last night after receiving thousands of condolences messages from the public, who honoured the memory of my dad,” he added.

He thanked the state government, which after an emergency state executive council meeting yesterday, decided to honour Karpal with a state-honoured funeral.

The decision also includes flying all state agencies flags at half mast until Sunday, and for allowing his cortege to be placed at the Dewan Sri Pinang for two hours in the premises so that state dignitaries, the public, family and friends can pay their last respects.

“My dad never asked for any recognition for his contributions during his lifetime but we are thankful for all the honour that has been shown to him so far,” said Jagdeep.

“The public have broken down and cried, we are deeply touched by all the prayers, well-wishes and the kind thoughts,” he added.