DAP today extended an invitation to both the prime minister and his deputy to be guests of honour at a memorial service for the late Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh tomorrow to prove that the event is non-political.
Gelang Patah MP and party adviser Lim Kit Siang (pic) said the invitation has been extended to Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
"The memorial service is to honour a great Malaysian patriot, someone who dedicated his life to the causes of justice, the rule of law, democracy and nation-building," Lim said.
In a statement, Lim assured both Najib and Muhyiddin that they were both welcome to attend the memorial service, along with all Malaysians.
The memorial service is being held at the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur at 8pm tomorrow night.
"Their attendance will show that the pettiness in mind and spirit have not affected the senior echelon of leaders in Putrajaya," he said.
Lim was referring to the Education Ministry's decision not to allow Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Chung Kwo to allow its school hall to be used for Karpal's memorial service.
The school, located along Jalan Loke Yew, had earlier allowed the hall to be used for the memorial service until the Education Ministry intervened.
In a press conference earlier today, DAP acting chairman Tan Kok Wai announced that the ministry had denied the party the use of the school hall for the memorial service on the grounds that it was a political event.
Tan had said that prior to this, the party had always used the school hall for various programmes, but was informed by the school authorities today that the ministry had rejected the application.
Lim, however, said the RM10 million school hall was built with donations from the parents of students and the public, without a single cent contributed by Putrajaya.
Lim said the ministry's action was deplorable as Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, had personally conveyed his condolences to Karpal's family last week.
"Muhyiddin had acknowledged Karpal's parliamentary contributions in living up to his responsibilities as a MP," Lim said.
Over 25,000 people turned up on Sunday at the Seri Pinang Hall in Padang Kota, Penang, to pay their last respects to Karpal, who was popularly known as the Tiger of Jelutong.
The outpouring of affection and grief for the fiery lawyer took even Karpal's family aback, prompting them to thank all who attended following the event on Sunday.
Malaysians from all walks of life, regardless of race, religion and creed, came together to pay their final respects to a man who never wavered from his principles.
Last Thursday at 1.10am, Karpal was on his way to Penang when the Toyota Alphard he was in was involved in a collision with a five-tonne Mitsubishi Canter lorry.
Both Karpal, 73, and his 30-year-old assistant Michael Cornelius, died in the accident.
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