PETALING JAYA: Tributes to the fearless leader and renowned lawyer Karpal Singh poured in from all quarters as the nation mourned his passing in a horrific traffic accident early yesterday.

Karpal, who had recently stepped down as the DAP chairman, was described by the party adviser and his long-time comrade-in-arms Lim Kit Siang as an indomitable fighter for justice, the rule of law and democracy.

“With Karpal’s death, a light has gone out in Malaysia. But the best tribute to the memory of Karpal is the mushrooming of more lights to brighten the Malaysian national landscape,” Lim said in a statement.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak honoured Karpal as a formidable opponent. “In politics, he was an implacable leader; in law, a committed advocate,” he said.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described Karpal as one of the nation’s most illustrious heroes.

“Indeed, words cannot express enough my profound sadness of the passing away of my brother-in-arms for freedom and democracy, an inspiring symbol for the struggle against oppression and injustice and a man of unimpeachable moral integrity,” Anwar said.

Karpal, 73, and his personal assistant Michael Cornelius, 39, were killed on-the-spot when the Toyota Alphard they were in was involved in an accident with a five-ton lorry near Gua Tempurung on the North-South Highway at about 1am yesterday. The impact of the collision ripped off the left side of the SUV.

His son, Ram Karpal and C Selvam, the driver of the Toyota Alphard were injured, but both were not in serious condition. However, an Indonesian woman believed to be a domestic worker was critically injured.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, against whose administration Karpal had frequently been at loggerheads said: “Despite professing a differing political ideology, Karpal Singh has contributed much to the nation. Some of his criticisms might not be correct, but some had basis. We need people from the opposition who talk sense.”

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said: “Karpal died before his time. He had so much to contribute. Despite his disability in the last 10 years, he still had a lot to contribute. It was a big loss to the party, and the country, but a bigger loss to the people because they were inspired by him.”

Lim, who is Penang Chief Minister, announced that Karpal’s funeral will be accorded Penang state honours and state flags will fly at half-mast until the public funeral at Dewan Seri Pinang on Sunday.

Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria described Karpal’s demise as “a great loss to the legal fraternity, being a powerhouse on the judicial front that he was”.

Malaysian Bar president Christopher Leong said: “He was a giant in the legal fraternity, a towering Malaysian and a great courageous man.

“He was a firm, fierce and fair lawyer. In arguing his cases, he goes straight to the point and does not waste time trying his luck with a long list of issues, and he was tenacious. He was both feared and respected as a lawyer.

“Karpal was also a vocal defender of the Federal Constitution against those who seek to undermine, subvert, misconstrue or change its fundamental provisions and structure. He felt strongly about being true to the founding principles and structure underpinning the constitution.”

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This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on April 18, 2014.