Sunday, June 28, 2020

Happy birthday, Karpal!

https://www.malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2020/06/28/karpal-singh-the-tiger-of-jelutong-lives-on-lara-ling/1879541?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1593317631

As you once poignantly said six years ago, "The fight goes on. You knock out one Karpal Singh, a hundred Karpal Singhs will rise." Indeed, the Tiger lives on. Malaysia, rise for what is right! 

Karpal never gave up. Neither should we. For that is what the great warrior would have wanted — for us to carry his hopes and dreams for a better Malaysia into the future. May his lifelong pursuit not be left unfinished.

Thank you Karpal, for leaving us such a powerful legacy. You were committed to justice and equality, even until the very end.

Karpal never gave up. Neither should we. For that is what the great warrior would have wanted — for us to carry his hopes and dreams for a better Malaysia into the future. May his lifelong pursuit not be left unfinished.

He was always undeterred. "We cannot be discouraged, as that’s exactly what our enemies would want." In our current political climate, these words couldn’t ring more true. While deep darkness has fallen over our beloved motherland, let us be that light that shines bright especially when all around us is night.


A legend and a political giant, he was fearless in fighting for justice, human rights, and democracy. Even in the face of intense persecution, he never wavered and always boldly stood up to injustice. And he paid dearly for it.
However, his sense of justice was so strong that nothing could stop him. Not detainment without trial, not fines, not prosecution, not systemic harassment.   Not even a debilitating car accident that robbed him of physical mobility and confined him to a wheelchair could break his spirit.

Amazingly, he never expected anything in return. Not fame, not power, not position, not recognition.

Karpal fought relentlessly for our civil rights and democratic liberties. He stood up for the destitute and the downtrodden, for those who were helpless to defend themselves. Rich or poor, he took on court cases without choosing clients based on their financial ability. In many instances, he represented them on a pro bono basis.
Karpal fought tooth and nail against the abuse of political and judicial powers. Throughout his life, he fiercely battled against a legal system that often failed terribly at protecting the rights of ordinary Malaysians. Laws have changed because of him. In the literal sense of the word, he was a lawmaker.

He was a man of honour and integrity, a true hero of the people. He was uncommon for the common man. A friend to the oppressed and the marginalized, his heart always went out to the last, the lost, and the least.

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