Karpal Singh
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| 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 (DAP) - Pakatan Rakyat |
| Spouse(s) | Gurmit Kaur |
| Occupation | Member of Parliament Party Chairman Advocate and Solicitor |
| Religion | Sikh |
| Website | http://www.karpalsingh.net/ |
Karpal Singh (Punjabi: ਕਰ੍ਪਲ੍ ਸਿਨ੍ਘ੍) (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". His father's name is Ram Singh
Singh defended Australian drug trafficker Kevin Barlow who was executed in Malaysia in 1986,[1] along with New Zealander Lorraine Cohen and her son Aaron, both of whom escaped the death penalty. A motor vehicle accident in 2005 has since left Singh using a wheelchair and[2] with neuromotor problems in his right arm.[3]
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[edit] Controversy
[edit] Suspension for "misleading Parliament"
On 7 September 2004, Karpal Singh was given the choice of apologizing within three days and face 10 days of suspension or suspension from Parliament with all privileges such as allowances stripped from him, for a period of six 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] Election results
| Year | Parliamentary seat/State Legislative Assembly | Votes | Majority | Total voters | Opponent |
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| 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
- ^ Brian Chambers and Kevin Barlow executed in Malaysia, Peter Hiett and Agencies, 7 July 1986, The Guardian
- ^ His pillar of strength, September 10, 2006, The Star (Malaysia)
- ^ DEWAN DISPATCHES: The Tiger bites the bullet, May 21, 2008, New Straits Times
[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
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