- Malaysiakini - DAP stalwart Karpal Singh, 74, has passed away.
Veteran opposition MP and lawyer Karpal Singh was killed in an accident near Gopeng in Perak this morning.
His long-time personal assistant Michael Cornelius Selvam Vellu, 39, was also killed.
Karpal's son Ram Karpal and the driver were also injured in the accident which occurred at 12.40am near 301.6km northbound marker along the the North-South Highway.
Malaysiakini learnt that Karpal and his son, who is also a lawyer, were heading north for a court case later today.
Photos taken at the scene of the accident - near Gua Tempurung
in Kampar - show the white Toyota Alphard badly damaged.
Contacted later, an Ipoh police spokesperson told Malaysiakini that it is believed the MPV collided with a lorry which switched lanes without indication.
Karpal's other son and Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo (left) told The Star that his father had died on the spot.
"My brother Ram is slightly injured but we are trying to get through to him," he added when the daily contacted him at 3.30am.
Karpal, 74, was involved in a previous car accident in 2005 where he was paralysed and wheelchair-bound.
The vocal politician graduated from University of Singapore and started his law practice before running for Parliament in 1978.
His long tenure as Jelutong MP and fiery speeches in the Dewan Rakyat earned him the moniker "Tiger of Jelutong".
Karpal had recently relinquished his post as DAP chairperson pending the disposal of his appeal against a sedition charge.
Last month, the High Court found him guilty of uttering seditious words against the Sultan of Perak at the height of the constitutional crisis in 2009.
PM offers condolences
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak conveyed his condolences via Twitter.
"I have just landed at Ankara when I heard the news that YB Karpal Singh died in a road accident. My condolences to the family," read the premier's tweet.
Other netizens also expressed condolences and shock over Karpal's passing.
His long-time personal assistant Michael Cornelius Selvam Vellu, 39, was also killed.
Karpal's son Ram Karpal and the driver were also injured in the accident which occurred at 12.40am near 301.6km northbound marker along the the North-South Highway.
Malaysiakini learnt that Karpal and his son, who is also a lawyer, were heading north for a court case later today.
Photos taken at the scene of the accident - near Gua Tempurung
in Kampar - show the white Toyota Alphard badly damaged.
Contacted later, an Ipoh police spokesperson told Malaysiakini that it is believed the MPV collided with a lorry which switched lanes without indication.
Karpal's other son and Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo (left) told The Star that his father had died on the spot.
"My brother Ram is slightly injured but we are trying to get through to him," he added when the daily contacted him at 3.30am.
Karpal, 74, was involved in a previous car accident in 2005 where he was paralysed and wheelchair-bound.
The vocal politician graduated from University of Singapore and started his law practice before running for Parliament in 1978.
His long tenure as Jelutong MP and fiery speeches in the Dewan Rakyat earned him the moniker "Tiger of Jelutong".
Karpal had recently relinquished his post as DAP chairperson pending the disposal of his appeal against a sedition charge.
Last month, the High Court found him guilty of uttering seditious words against the Sultan of Perak at the height of the constitutional crisis in 2009.
PM offers condolences
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak conveyed his condolences via Twitter.
"I have just landed at Ankara when I heard the news that YB Karpal Singh died in a road accident. My condolences to the family," read the premier's tweet.
Other netizens also expressed condolences and shock over Karpal's passing.
"Shocked and sad news! DAP chairman Karpal Singh passed away in
accident tonight. Malaysia has lost a truly patriotic son," wrote
Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming.
The bodies of the two deceased, Karpal and Michael, arrived at the Ipoh General Hospital at 7.20am.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (right) and his deputy Mohd Rashid Hasnon, and former Perak menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin were there.
They conveyed their condolences to Karpal's sons Gobind and Jagdeep. Karpal's wife was seen crying, while a relative tried to prevent photos from being taken. The bodies were sent for post-mortem.
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