Karpal Singh
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Yang Berhormat Bukit Gelugor Karpal Singh
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Democratic Action Party National Chairman
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Lim Kit Siang |
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| Constituency | Bukit Gelugor |
| Majority | 21,015 |
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Member of Parliament
for Bukit Gelugor |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office March 24, 2004 |
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| Preceded by | new constituency |
| Majority | 21,015 |
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| Born | 28 June 1940 |
| Political party |  Democratic Action Party - Pakatan Rakyat |
| Occupation | Member of Parliament Party Chairman Advocate and Solicitor |
| Religion | Sikh |
Karpal Singh a/l Ram Singh (born June 28, 1940) is a Malaysian politician and a lawyer by profession. He is the current chairman of the Democratic Action Party and a member of Parliament for Bukit Gelugor, Penang. He won the seat in the 2004 general election. He is an ethnic Punjabi and a prominent lawyer in Malaysia, well known for his expertise in the field of litigation. His reputation has earned him the nickname "Tiger of Jelutong".
Karpal defended the Australian drug trafficker Kevin Barlow who was executed in Malaysia in 1986.[1] A car injury in 2005 has since left Karpal wheelchair-bound[2] and neuromotor problems with his right arm.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Controversy
[edit] Suspension for "misleading Parliament"
On the 7 September 2004, Karpal Singh was given the choice of apologizing within 3 days and face 10 days of suspension or suspension from Parliament with all privileges such as allowances stripped from him, for a period of 6 months. Karpal had earlier told returning MPs that they had to raise their right hand when speaking the oath of office. Parliament determined that there was no such requirement and subsequently, that Karpal was deliberately misleading parliament. All 12 DAP members of parliament walked out in protest.
[edit] Prisoner of Conscience
Amnesty International declared Mr Singh a prisoner of conscience in 1987 when, during Operation Lalang, he was arrested under the Internal Security Act and imprisoned until January 1989 without charge or trial. Mr Singh was released by order of the court in March 1988 in response to a habeas corpus application, but was rearrested by the police only hours later and taken into custody. Karpal Singh is a leading opponent of the death penalty in Malaysia. He also acted for the gaoled Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and was accused of making seditious remarks during that trial. Malaysia's Sessions Court charged Karpal Singh, a long-time critic of Mahathir Mohamad, with sedition after he alleged at Mr Anwar's sodomy trial that people in high places had tried to poison his client. The, then, deputy chairman of the Democratic Action Party pleaded innocent, and was released on bail. Karpal Singh said it was the first time in any Commonwealth nation that a lawyer was prosecuted for something he said during a trial. He also said the case would test the independence of the judiciary and the status of lawyers in Malaysia.
[edit] Detention without trial
He has previously spent time in prison under the Internal Security Act.
[edit] Karpal fires the first salvo
DAP stalwart Karpal Singh fired the first salvo even before the 12th Parliament is officially opened by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today.
The Bukit Gelugor MP interrupted the oath-taking ceremony to point out that a certain deputy minister, believed to be Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad, had not raised his right hand while taking his oath as required.
This was reminiscent of a similar incident in 2004 when Karpal Singh was suspended from Parliament for six months after then Speaker Tun Zahir Ismail held that the DAP leader had misled the Dewan Rakyat over the need for MPs to raise their right hand during oath-taking.
Then it was Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein who apparently forgot to raise his right hand while taking the oath.
Karpal Singh made the protest yesterday after pointing to the notice sent to MPs informing them of the new session, which had an appendix stating that parliamentarians must raise their right hand when taking their oath.
“The letter said that we go up to the rostrum where the book is, bow, go forward, raise the right hand and then read out the oath.”
Pandikar Amin replied: “I noticed this. MPs, please do raise your hand when taking your oath.”
To this, the Karpal Singh said: “This is not about pleading with the MPs, this is a requirement.”
When the Speaker said, “Who knows, maybe he had sakit tangan (pain in his hand),” the House broke into laughter.
Later, when the wheelchair-bound DAP MP took his oath from his special seat at the corner of the first Opposition bloc, he raised his left hand instead of the right, complaining that his hand tidak berapa baik (not so good)
Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the issue should be allowed to rest.
“MPs, should, by right, raise their hands. Angkat ajelah (just raise it). But the mistake has been made, we hope it will never happen again. What do you want to do? Suspend him?” asked Nazri.[1]
[edit] Election results
| Year | Parliamentary seat/State Legislative Assembly | Votes | Majority | Total voters | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | P Alor Setar | - | lost | - | - |
| 1974 | N Alor Setar Bandar | - | won | - | - |
| 1978 | P Jelutong | - | won | - | - |
| 1978 | N Bukit Gelugor | - | won | - | - |
| 1982 | P Jelutong | - | won | - | - |
| 1982 | N Bukit Gelugor | - | won | - | - |
| 1986 | P Jelutong | - | won | - | - |
| 1986 | N Bukit Gelugor | - | won | - | - |
| 1990 | P Jelutong | - | won | - | - |
| 1990 | N Sungai Pinang | - | lost | - | - |
| 1995 | P49 Jelutong | 21895 | won by 283 | - | - |
| 1995 | N Padang Kota | - | lost | - | - |
| 1999 | P49 Jelutong | 20716 | lost by 775 | 59372 | Lee Kah Choon (BN - Gerakan) |
| 2004 | P51 Bukit Gelugor (new seat) | 22529 | won by 1261 | 60123 | Lim Boo Chang (BN - MCA) |
| 2008 | P51 Bukit Gelugor | 35140 | won by 21015 | 65614 | Koay Kar Huah (BN - MCA) |
[edit] Notes and references
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Malaysia Election 2004 results for Penang parliamentary seats.
- Malaysia Election 1999 results for Penang parliamentary seats.
- Tribute to Mr Karpal Singh Parliament of New South Wales
