Full state honours for Malaysian Indian leader's funeral

The funeral of Malaysian Indian politician Karpal Singh, who was killed in a a road accident Thursday, will be conducted with full state honours on Sunday, it was announced here.

The cortege is expected to arrive at Dewan Sri Pinang at 7.45 a.m, said Chow Kon Yeow, chasirman of the Penang state unit of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), who is leading the Penang state honours committee.

The wake is being held at Karpal Singh's residence at 144A Jalan Utama, Penang.

The funeral will be open to the public from 8.30 a.m to 10.15 a.m, The Malaysian Star reported.

"Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is to deliver a eulogy after 10.15 a.m., which will be followed by the state government paying its last respects. After that, political parties and other associations will have their turn to pay their respects," Chow said at a press conference Saturday.

"Registration of associations who wanted to pay their last respects will be opened at the Dewan Sri Pinang from 8.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. Sunday," Chow added.

The cortege will make temporary stops at the Penang High Court and in Jalan Green Hall.

It will then proceed to Pesara King Edwards before making a turn and stop in front of the State Assembly building in Lebuh Light.

"The cortege will then head towards St Xavier's Institution where a band and singing performance will be held. Then it will stop for a while at the Rangoon Road-Burma Road junction where the Penang DAP headquarters is located," Chow said.

This is the first time the term 'state honours' has been used to conduct a funeral, Chow stated.

"The family of Karpal Singh did not ask for it. It was an honour given to them," Chow added.

Karpal Singh died in a road accident Thursday along the North-South Expressway near Gua Tempurung, Kampar.

Also killed in the accident, involving Karpal Singh's MPV and a lorry, was the politician's personal assistant Michael Cornelius, 39.

Karpal Singh's son Ramkarpal Singh, 38, and his driver C. Selvam, 27, were unhurt.

His Indonesian maid suffered serious injuries.

Karpal Singh was a lawyer and politician, who has been the member of parliament for Bukit Gelugor in the state of Penang since 2004.

He was a former national chairman of the DAP, a position that he assumed in 2004.

His political career began in 1970 when he joined the DAP.

He was first elected to parliament in 1978 as the representative for Jelutong, Penang, and held the seat for more than 20 years until 1999, when he lost.

He returned to parliament in the next general election and led the DAP to its strongest ever performance in the 2008 elections.