Malaysiakini | Apr 17, 2014
It was an emotional and teary morning at the Ipoh Hospital’s Forensic Department as Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh’s body arrived for a post-mortem at 7.20am.
Karpal’s body will be taken back to his family home in Penang today and he is expected to be cremated at the Sikh cremation hall on Jalan Gurdwara at 11am on Sunday.
Arriving with his body from Kampar, where Karpal together with his helper, Michael Cornelius, died on-the-spot in an accident near the Gopeng exit of the North-South Expressway, was his son, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, who looked exhausted.
Though he appeared distraught as he himself had been admitted to hospital in Kuala Lumpur recently, Gobind (on the left) was calm and collected as he took questions from the army of reporters who have come to the hospital from Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang.
Karpal’s wife, Gurmit Kaur, was also in tears as she entered the waiting hall, wearing a purple scarf over her head, as relatives accompanied her into the Forensic Department’s waiting area.
She was speechless but her pain was apparent as many approach her to offer condolences, as they hugged her and held her tight.
Others waiting at the scene were Karpal’s son Penang executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Perak PAS chairperson Nizar Jamaluddin and Penang leaders such as state exco member Phee Boon Poh and Seri Delima assemblyperson RSN Rayer.
As one point, Lim was seen in tears as he hugged Gobind, offering his condolences, drawing tears from onlookers as well.
Since then, many supporters of the veteran lawyer and DAP, have gathered outside the building, which was only officially opened yesterday.
About 8.30am, Karpal’s driver, C Selvam was seen approaching the building, sobbing loudly, as he was whisked away by several others.
A security guard, who happens to hail from Dato Keramat in Penang, where Jagdeep is the assemblyperson, said Karpal is the first person to be brought to the mortuary.
“We have not seen such a big man die here before. This is the first time we are seeing this. I knew about the incident at 5am and I am shocked as I know about the political careers of Karpal and his son Jagdeep,” the guard, who did not want to be named, told Malaysiakini.