28 June 2014. Tiger of Jelutong, dear Uncle Karpal, you would have been 74 today. A towering fighter, gentlemen, a true hero, a fighter for justice, equality and freedom.
Malaysians remember you, our comrade, soldier, warrior, father, lawyer and dedicated politician, the great yet humble Karpal Singh. That we tell ourselves too that we are all Karpal Singh and we will carry your fire and courage in our hearts to fight for what is right and just.
There is an old saying that raw gold must go through fires before it becomes a 24 carat gold. So must a man. And through many fires did our Karpal Singh go through, for a Malaysian Malaysia, as pure gold that he was. A humanitarian, with core universal principles, and valuesfor which he fought for and lived by with with every fibre of his being, with every breath and with every ounce of courage.
To me, the Sdr Karpal Singh, Sdr Chen Man Hin, Sdr Lim Kit Siang, Sdr Lim Guan Eng, my late father Sdr P. Patto, Sdr Chan Kok Kit, Sdr Chian Heng Kai, Sdr Ahmad Nor and many more in the DAP went through more fires than anyone else I know.
The fact that Karpal Singh chose a multi racial platform offered by the DAP is a true reflection of this man’s character when race based parties were popular in the 60s and 70s.
Uncle Karpal was truly like a father to me and receiving the devastating news on April 17 that he is no longer with us felt like I had lost my father again for the second time, a horrible blow.
Remembering the campaign, despite being confined to a wheelchair, he still came to the Batu Kawan constituency to campaign for me and then to Bukit Gelugor for a late ceramah, even after 12 midnight and sometimes, teasing the poor policemen on duty, “Kalau berani, tangkaplah”. Uncle Karpal’s presence sealed our victories, sending us to be the voices of the people in the state legislative assemblies and in the House of August.
Being a fresh MP, I believe I received the biggest blessing of all, the privilege and honour of sitting next to the Tiger of Jelutong in Parliament, to serve and to assist him as much as I could and as much as needed.
When Uncle Karpal spoke in Parliament, he did not have any written notes or points to refer to. All that was open in front of him was always the standing order, the federal constitution and some articles which he would often quote from. He spoke from his heart and he spoke with a sharp mind in his low growling voice. The entire House would normally go silent when he spoke and the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat often would turn to face him and give him his full attention. I would sit in awe looking at the giant of a man next to me cite articles of law and examples to get his point across. He spoke fearlessly for what was true and just, without fear or favour.
Tiger of Jelutong. Oh how true that name to befit a great, great man. We have witnessed all his fights and battles but mostly as spectators. He was the one in the ring, standing up for principles and for reasoned arguments. Not yielding or succumbing when lesser men using the powers that can command unjustly, sought to silence him, incarcerate him, remove him through unjust laws.
We watched all this, not just recently but for years and years back.
They did not know, that a wounded tiger is more dangerous and fierce than one which is not.
We all know now which side of the arguments Sdr Karpal Singh stood for. Fair and just policies that do not discriminate on any basis. For supremacy of law as the guiding principle, for a secular system so that each one of us can practice his or her own religion without fear or favour. In these issues, he never wavered. And history will vindicate him.
We honour him today on his 74th birthday for his indomitable spirit and courage to carry on with the quest for justice regardless of the price he had to pay. We admire him for not yielding to threats and retributions. We salute him for placing principles above everything else. We thank him for guiding us and for inspiring us to soldier on even when everything seems hopeless in the firm belief that we will eventually find that light to brighten our lives.
My darling Uncle Karpal, when I came back to Parliament for the last sitting, there was an empty space next to me, an unfillable void in my life and political career, but also that the Parliament and the nation have lost a fearless fighter for human rights and the people have lost their prince.
I will miss looking in great admiration at your gentle face, the twinkle in your eye, your warm smile and your sweet voice when you ask me without fail, “How’s things, girl?”.
Today I stand tall with every Malaysian with our heads held high, with our hearts full of courage that you have left us to continue your fight against tyranny and oppression, to continue your struggle for a just and free society, to continue your war and battle for a Malaysian Malaysia where non are judged by the colour of their skin, race or religion but by judge of character, where Malaysians are treated as equals under the Malaysian sun.
Uncle Karpal, you were one of the comrades who carried my father P. Patto, in his last journey on earth. Today, I will carry your spirit in my heart to fight for equality, justice, freedom and democracy.
Today we salute you Uncle Karpal, for being the man you are. You taught us to defend the defenceless, you taught us that being confined to a wheelchair does not make us weak, but it makes us stronger. You taught us not to fear, and dear Sir, we shall not.
You are truly the Mandela of Malaysia, Happy Birthday Tiger of Jelutong.
And his thunderous voice resonates
“They want to make it as difficult as they can for us here so we’ll go away.
But we will not go – that would be giving them what they want, and that would be wrong.”
“We have to stay and fight.”