Missing Karpal

— Lim Guan Eng
The Malay Mail Online
April 17, 2015

APRIL 17 — As we mark the first year anniversary of the sudden departure of DAP national chairman Karpal Singh, we mourn the party’s and the people’s loss. Whilst we can never replace the pain and sorrow felt by his family, Malaysia is clearly poorer without Karpal.

Karpal pushed the party’s profile as a Malaysian party and advanced our cause for justice, freedom and democracy. He did not just simply create history by becoming the first non-Chinese DAP National Chair but used his legal prowess to demonstrate the true meaning of Malaysian Malaysia, by defending the rights of everyone regardless of race, religion, background and even nationality. Indeed for Karpal, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

I wish to relive Karpal the person. Karpal Singh was one of the few DAP leaders who radiated an inner light that gave hope to many and remembered for his innate goodness. He was respected because he cared about other people, and was willing to be a good listener with the unique gift to make the individual feel valued.

Karpal fitted his life around the needs of others more than to his own. In the process, he had to endure some pain and loss. This pattern of defeat, recognition, redemption was repeated again and again. But he always told me that pain and suffering was part of the struggle and even useful to inject iron into the soul. His constant refrain was, “Look at Kit (Lim Kit Siang) and me. We both lost in elections and both went to prison but were never weaker because of it”. He believed defeat was not the end but a necessary test of our faith in principles.

Karpal was unfailingly loyal to his old and trusted comrades, especially Kit and Dr Chen Man Hin, and others who had stayed on with the party when we were nearly wiped out electorally. He shared in the joys, sorrows and pains of fighting an oppressive ruling regime.

I miss Karpal the leader, the mentor and the person who not only gave hope but inspired us with the optimism to hang on tightly to our principles. I miss his hearty genuine laughter filled with good cheer that would lift our spirits to just pick ourselves up again and again after being knocked down. Most of all I miss his indomitable spirit to simply carry on, no matter that the odds are never in your favour.

Rest in peace, Karpal, you will always be remembered.