Karpal Singh

Who was Karpal Singh?

Karpal Singh s/o Ram Singh was a Malaysian lawyer and politician, who was the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Bukit Gelugor in the state of Penang since 2004. He was the former National Chairman of the Democratic Action Party, a position that he assumed in 2004.

Born in Penang to an Indian Punjabi immigrant father, Karpal read law at the National University of Singapore. He was one of Malaysia's most prominent lawyers, and took up numerous high-profile cases, including drug trafficking charges against foreign nationals, and sodomy accusations against former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. Karpal was a staunch opponent of the death penalty, especially in relation to drug trafficking offences.

In both courtrooms and parliament, he was known as a controversial figure. He was suspended from parliament numerous times, charged for sedition, and had been detained under Malaysia's internal security laws. His reputation as a lawyer and opposition politician earned him the nickname "the Tiger of Jelutong".

Karpal's political career began in 1970 when he joined the DAP. He won a seat in the Kedah State Legislative Assembly in 1974.