Air Itam (Malay for black water) is a town in Penang, Malaysia. The famous Kek Lok Si Temple (極樂寺) and Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera) are situated there. A famous Chinese secondary school, named Chung Ling High School, is located in Jalan Air Itam. The State Mosque, or Masjid Negeri, is also located there. Bandar Baru Air Itam is a town near Air Itam. Air Itam is famous for its 'laksa' which is located at the junction of Kek Lok Si Temple. The primary ethnicity of Air Itam is Chinese.

v t e Penang Districts North-East Penang Island South-West Penang Island Northern Seberang Perai Central Seberang Perai Southern Seberang Perai Cities George Town (capital) Towns Air Itam Bagan Ajam Balik Pulau Batu Ferringhi Batu Kawan Batu Maung Batu Uban Bayan Lepas Bukit Gelugor Bukit Jambul Bukit Mertajam Bukit Tambun Butterworth Ceruk Tok Kun Gelugor Jawi Jelutong Juru Mak Mandin Kepala Batas Nibong Tebal Pantai Aceh Paya Terubong Penanti Permatang Pauh Perai Pinang Tunggal Seberang Jaya Sungai Ara Sungai Bakap Sungai Dua Sungai Jawi Sungai Nibong Tanjung Bungah Tanjung Tokong Tasek Gelugor Teluk Bahang Teluk Kumbar Valdor Villages Gertak Sanggul Kampung Buah Pala Mengkuang Titi Permatang Pasir Permatang Manggis Permatang Sintok Permatang Bertam Islands Pulau Aman Pulau Betong Pulau Gedung Pulau Jerejak Pulau Kendi Pulau Pinang Pulau Rimau Pulau Tikus

Coordinates: 5°24′22″N 100°17′47″E / 5.40611°N 100.29639°E / 5.40611; 100.29639

This Penang location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Yang Amat Berhormat Lim Guan Eng 林冠英
Chief Minister of Penang
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 March 2008
Governor	Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abbas
Preceded by	Koh Tsu Koon
Member of Parliament for Bagan
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 March 2008
Preceded by	Lim Hock Seng
Majority	22,070
Member of the Penang State Assembly for Air Puteh
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 March 2008
Preceded by	Lye Siew Weng
Majority	4,061
5th Secretary-General of Democratic Action Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 2004
Preceded by	Kerk Kim Hock
Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka
In office 1986–1999
Preceded by	Soh Chin Aun
Succeeded by	Kerk Kim Hock
Personal details
Born	(1960-12-08) 8 December 1960 (age 51) Johor Bahru
Nationality	Malaysian
Political party	Democratic Action Party - Pakatan Rakyat
Spouse(s)	Betty Chew Gek Cheng
Relations	Son of Lim Kit Siang
Children	4
Residence	Melaka, Penang
Alma mater	Monash University
Occupation	Bank Senior Executive (Prior Politics) Member of Parliament Civil Servant
Website	http://limguaneng.com/ http://cm.penang.gov.my/

Lim Guan Eng (Chinese: 林冠英; pinyin: Lín Guānyīng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lîm Kuan-ing) is the 4th Chief Minister of the State of Penang and Secretary-General of the Malaysian Democratic Action Party (DAP). He is the son of Lim Kit Siang, Leader of the Opposition in the Dewan Rakyat from 1973 to 1999 and 2004 to 2008.

Lim married to Betty Chew Gek Cheng, a member of the DAP and a state assemblywoman in Malacca.^[1]

Early education[link]

Lim Guan Eng attended the La Salle Primary English School in Petaling Jaya, and later the Batu Pahat Montfort Primary English School. For secondary education, he went to Batu Pahat High School and Malacca High School. He graduated from Monash University, Australia in Bachelor of Economics and was a qualified professional accountant by 1983. He was the president of MUISS (Monash University International Student Society).

Political career[link]

Prior to his political career, Lim was a Bank Senior executive.^[2] Lim was first elected as a Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka in 1986, after defeating Soh Chin Aun with a majority of 17,606 votes. He was re-elected in the subsequent 1990 and 1995 general elections, albeit with reduced majority votes. He thus became the first person to be elected for three consecutive terms in Kota Melaka. He was also the first Malacca High School alumnus to achieve this.

After joining the Democratic Action Party, he was appointed as the DAP Socialist Youth Chairman in 1989 and was elected to that post in 1992. In 1995, he was elected as the DAP Deputy Secretary-General. Lim was elected as the party Secretary-General in 2004, and has held the position since.

Jailed under Sedition Act[link]

Lim was arrested by the Malaysian police in 1994, following his criticism on the government's handling of allegations of statutory rape in one of his constituents by former Chief Minister of the state of Melaka, Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik. Consequently, while the Attorney General decided not to press charges Rahim Thamby Chik, Lim was charged under Section 4(1) (b) of the Sedition Act 1948 for causing 'disaffection with the administration of justice in Malaysia'. Lim was also charged under Section 8A (1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 for 'maliciously printing' a pamphlet containing allegedly 'false information' because he had described the alleged rape victim as an 'imprisoned victim' because she was initially detained by Malaysian police without parental consent for 10 days. During the judicial procedure, Lim was quoted saying:

After a series of appeals, Lim was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. He was, however, released after 12 months on August 25, 1999. Due to his incarceration, he was disallowed from standing for election to public office for a period of 5 years, and he was therefore ineligible to contest in the 2004 Malaysian General Election.

Internal bickering[link]

In 2005, Lim suffered a surprise defeat in his campaign for re-election to the Melaka DAP committee when he and his wife came in last and second-last (respectively). However, as Lim remained Secretary-General of the party, he was automatically included among the committee under the party constitution. Although his wife remained the chief of the state DAP women's wing, she was not included in the committee. ^[1] Teresa Kok, a DAP Member of Parliament, suggested there was a conspiracy behind Lim's and Chew's ouster from the committee. ^[1] Nevertheless, Lim garnered the second highest number of votes (620)^[3] at the party's 15th National Congress on August 23, 2008.

Chief Minister of Penang[link]

In 2008 Malaysian general election, the coalition of DAP-PKR-PAS later known as the Pakatan Rakyat won 29 out of 40 state seats contested, in which DAP is the largest winning party with 19 seats, PKR 9 seats, and PAS 1,^[4] and thus defeated the former ruling coalition Barisan Nasional for the authority to rule Penang for the next five years. Even though, Lim is not a Penangite, as the Secretary-General of DAP, he was nominated to be the next Chief Minister (CM) of Penang replacing long serving former Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon. Senior DAP leaders of Penang such as Lim Hock Seng, Phee Boon Poh, and Chow Kon Yeow were bypassed and were instead appointed as excos.

Governance[link]

As the new Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng announced an amnesty on all summonses issued by the Penang Municipal Council and Seberang Perai Municipal Council involving vendors' licences and parking offences issued before March 2008. On March 14, a rowdy group comprising mostly Umno members and supporters took to the streets illegally after Friday prayers to protest his statements on the NEP. No arrests were made but two men were taken in for questioning. Various BN-backed groups and NGOs continued to make different sorts of protest and lodge police reports as a form of continued harassment.^[5]

On March 19, 2008, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that the state exco had approved an open tender system for projects exceeding RM50,000. For projects between RM20,000 and RM50,000, a balloting system will be introduced and a two-week objection period would be given for both the open tender and balloting systems. This is a stark contrast to BN government's usual way of directly awarding lucrative contracts to companies without any form of open tendering, mostly to shell companies created by connected personnel or BN politicians; a major project, the Penang International Convention Centre(PICC) was nearly launched without open tender. As of 2010, Penang remains the only state in Malaysia that practises a blanket open tendering system. ^[6]

During Lim's tenure as Chief Minister, Penang has ranked top among the list of investments in Malaysia, attracting RM12.2 billion worth of total capital investments as of 2010, which accounts for 25% of total investments in Malaysia. This is also a 465% increase compared to the total investment of RM2.17 billion as of 2009. Consequently in 2011, Penang became top in manufacturing investment in Malaysia for the second consecutive year, with RM9.1 billion in total. In a new measurement indicator of total investment however, which comprises manufacturing, services and private sectors, Penang ranked second in Malaysia after Sarawak in total investments, with the total amount of RM14.038 billion, this was due to not having much primary sector investments. ^{[7] [8] [9]} Consequently, the public debt in Penang has decreased by 95% from RM630 million in 2008 to RM30 million at the end of 2011. ^[10]

On April 28, 2011, Lim signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China, which is witnessed by Chinese premier Wen Jiabao and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on the proposal of the construction of three road and tunnel projects in Penang island, including a 6.5km undersea tunnel, a third link between the island and Butterworth on the mainland. According to Lim, this would ease traffic congestion in the area and to improve the links between the island and the mainland. ^[11]

Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT)[link]

The Penang state government, led by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, has launched the concept of Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT) in his governance. The slogan propels the state government to achieve an efficient, responsible and clean government. Aside from that, the emphasis of the slogan aims to allow people in Penang to share the state government's prosperity when the slogan is achieved. ^[12] Furthermore, it also aims to make Penang into a cleaner, greener and safer state. CAT also comprises positive work ethics and inculcate a team spirit based on performance. This slogan is eventually achieved when the state government enjoy record budget surpluses in successfully attracting up to RM 12.2 billion of total capital investments and practicing an open tender system. ^[13] According to the international weekly newsmagazine The Economist, the reform of the government with its new policies has ended the cronyism and corruption that that led to major deficits under the previous regime. ^[14]

As a result, the Penang state government has received praise from the Auditor-General as the best financially managed state in Malaysia each year from 2008-2010. According to the AG report, the consolidated fund has increased by 2.7%, from RM1,101.89mil in 2009 to RM1,131.17mil in 2010. Likewise, the consolidated revenue fund has surged by 6.2% from RM538.95mil in 2009 to RM572.49mil in 2010. ^[15] Aside from that, Penang has also won accolades from Transparency International for implementing open tenders in awarding contracts. ^[16]

Welfare aids and programs[link]

These record budget surpluses are directed towards social benefits such as financial aid to the hardcore poor, cash handouts to the elderly as anti-corruption dividend, upgrading of public housing, free Wi-Fi internet services at selected hot spots and free bus services within the city and between Penang island and Seberang Perai for workers. ^[17] Social welfare aid of RM100 is awarded annually to senior citizens, single mothers, disabled individuals, new-born babies and school-going pupils in Primary 1 to 4 as well as Form 1 to 4. ^[18]

Cleaner, Greener Penang[link]

Cleaner, Greener Penang is an initiative by the Penang state government launched in 2010 as part of an effort to transform Penang into the most environmentally-friendly and livable city in Malaysia through education, enforcement and appreciation. This is to restore the current living environment into a cleaner and more sustainable city, which in turn improving the quality of life. ^{[19] [20]}

The Penang state government, led by Lim, enforced the ban on free plastic bags throughout the state on January 1, 2010, despite getting an initial lukewarm response from retail outlets. Lim said the move would reduce the state's garbage production and carbon footprint. Retail stores, food outlets and hawker stalls state-wide are required to adhere to the rulings in order to ensure of the renewal of business licences. The proceedings from the sale of plastic bags went to the "Partners Against Poverty" Special Fund to assist the state's hardcore poor. This initiative was the first of its kind in Malaysia. ^{[21] [22] [23]}

On December 11, 2011, Lim initiated the Car Free Day which would be held every Sunday at particular stretches of roads in the interior city of George Town, Penang. All motorised vehicles are prohibited from entering these areas on that day, which are part of Lim's efforts transform Penang into a sustainable city and fight climate change. ^[24] In addition, the state government is also considering a proposal to set up bicycle lanes around Penang island, mainly along coastal areas, and Seberang Perai, which is scheduled to complete by 2020. ^[25] The dedicated bicycle lanes in Penang island will cover a coastal route between Penang Second Bridge to Batu Maung and Teluk Bahang. In Seberang Perai, it will cover a total of 140km stretch covering state and town roads, subjecting to feedback from the public. Lim wanted to promote Penang as the first state to promote cycling as a healthy form of activity and reduce dependency on motorised vehicles. ^[26]

Foreign delegations and state visits[link]

On November 6, 2011 the Penang state government under Lim's leadership managed to strengthen ties and forge friendship with the state of Victoria, Australia when the Governor of Victoria Alex Chernov had an official visit to Penang for a day-long visit with the invitation of the state government. ^[27]

On November 15, 2011 Penang had hosted the official visit by Governor General of Canada the Right Honourable David Johnston and the ex-Speaker of the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan for 2 days. Penang had managed to forge foreign relations with Canada and Japan, which consequently managed to strengthen trade ties to lure foreign investors in Penang. Johnston's first visit to the state was welcomed by Lim and the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang Abdul Rahman Abbas and walked around the Penang Heritage Trail together with his delegation. ^{[28] [29]}

Other foreign delegations who visited Penang include the South Australian Minister of Police and Governor of Bangkok Sukhumbhand Paribatra.

Several investment and business delegations has been led by Lim on state visits to Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore, Melbourne, Adelaide, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. ^{[30] [31]} Lim's official visit to Bangkok also witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Penang and Bangkok, which enable Penang to be a rapid growing world-class and international city. Prior to this state visit, Penang is looking to develop its tourism skills by seeking cooperation with Bangkok. Lim said that the state aspires to be enhanced into a global city status by putting itself as a major economic hub, a top choice for investors, a desirable place for tourists and a habitat of choice for people who want to earn a sustainable living. ^[32]

Controversy[link]

On September 20, 2011, Lim Guan Eng participated in an interview conducted by Australia Broadcasting Corporation where he was reported by the Malaysian news agency, Bernama, to have disparaged the security of the state of Johor. ^[33] Lim Guan Eng insisted he never mentioned Johor, and demanded that Bernama retract their story and issue a formal apology, or face a lawsuit.^[34] However, a recording was later revealed by the government controlled television channel, TV3, showing clear evidence of Lim Guan Eng proclaiming that Singaporeans who are in Johor are "likely to be kidnapped". The recording of Lim Guan Eng's remark was made in Singapore. This led Lim Guan Eng to issue a formal apology to the Sultan of Johor. ^[35]

On December 14, 2011, Lim has won the defamation suit against Malay daily Utusan Malaysia, which has been ordered by the Penang High Court to pay a total of RM200,00 worth of damages and a cost of RM25,000 to him. Utusan Malaysia had allegedly publishing a false, malicious and defamatory news article about Lim. Judge G.V Varughese has found seven paragraphs on Utusan Malaysia's article entitled "Kebiadapan Guan Eng" (Guan Eng's Arrogance) which had defamed his political career, and subsequently picturing him and DAP as anti-Malay and anti-Muslim. Lim was represented by Jagdeep Singh Deo, his lawyer. On January 2011 Lim has filed the suit at the Penang High Court. The article which was published on December 2010, accused DAP as tool for foreign government in undermining the Malaysian federal government and urged DAP to be banned. The Malay daily also claimed Lim as being racist and anti-Malay after the Pakatan Rakyat 2010 Convention. However, judge G.V Varughese has said that the article was mere rhetoric and not backed by facts. He added that there was also no verification of information in the article as the writer of the article had said that there was a boycott of Utusan Malaysia and therefore, could not verify the facts. ^[36]

Earlier in 2012 Penang state UMNO Youth Chief Shaik Hussein Mydin accused the Penang state government had violated laws that it had sold the Bayan Mutiara land to developer Ivory Property Group Berhad without subdividing the land. He also claimed that the state government sold the land without open tender and made no provision for mosques. However, Lim Guan Eng had shown evidence that it has been sold via open tender and thus explained that the developer would only do the subdividing when it submits development plans for the 41.5-ha real estate to Penang Municipal Council. The developer had clarified that land for the mosque and school has been allocated and adhered to the town planning regulation after the new plans and subdivision of title has been submitted. ^{[37] [38]}

Personal life[link]

Lim is married to Betty Chew Gek Cheng (周玉清), who is also the State Assemblywoman for Kota Laksamana in Melaka. She is the first serving assemblywoman to be married to a Chief Minister. They have four children.

References[link]

Notes[link]

1. ^ ^a - "Guan Eng and wife voted out of Malacca DAP committee".
2. ^ - Beh "Mr and Mrs Lim's defeat a 'conspiracy'".
3. ^ - "Lim Guan Eng Reassures Penang".

Citations[link]

• "Guan Eng and wife voted out of Malacca DAP committee". (Dec. 19, 2005). The Star (Malaysia).
• Beh, Lih Yi (Dec. 19, 2005). "Mr and Mrs Lim's defeat a 'conspiracy'". Malaysiakini.
• "The trial of opposition parliamentarian Lim Guan Eng: an update". (Mar. 1, 1997). Amnesty International.
• "Lim Guan Eng released but his civil rights remain curtailed". (Aug. 25, 1999). Amnesty International.
• Lim Guan Eng Biodata
• TheStar Article

Karpal Singh (Punjabi: ਕਰ੍ਪਲ੍ ਸਿੰਘ; born 28 June 1940) is a Malaysian lawyer and politician, who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for the neighbourhood of Bukit Gelugor in the state of Penang since 2004. He is the current National Chairman of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a position he assumed in 2004.

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

In both courtrooms and parliament, he is known as a controversial figure. He has been suspended from parliament numerous times, charged for sedition, and has been detained under Malaysia's internal security laws. His reputation as a lawyer and opposition politician has 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. He was first elected to parliament in 1978 as the representative for Jelutong, Penang, and held the seat for more than 20 years until losing it in 1999. He returned to parliament in the next general election, and led the DAP to its strongest ever performance in the 2008 general election.

A motor vehicle accident in 2005 has since left Karpal using a wheelchair and with neuromotor problems in his right arm. Despite this, he has continued his legal and political careers.

Early life and education[link]

Born in Georgetown, Penang, Karpal Singh was the son of watchman and part-time herdsman Ram Singh.^[1] Ram had moved from India to Penang in 1921.^[2] Karpal's ancestors were wheat farmers from the village of Samna Pind, near Amritsar, in the Punjab region.^[1] He visited the village in 1963 while attending university and in 1974 when his father was killed in an accident there.^[1]

Karpal studied at St. Xavier's Institution.^[2][3] He met his wife, Gurmit Kaur, while herding his father's cows.^[1]

He obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Singapore.^[1] During his time there, he also served as president of the student's union.^[2] He was barred from the hostel for protesting against the university's decision to mandate the "certificate of political suitability" for enrolling students.^[2] Karpal said he took seven years to graduate, admitting that he was "playful" and "didn’t attend lectures."^[1] After failing his final year courses, the dean, Tommy Koh, made him sit at the front of the class, and according to Karpal, "I couldn’t play the fool any more and I passed my exams accordingly!"^[1]

Legal career[link]

Karpal Singh was called to the Penang bar in 1969 and joined a firm in Alor Setar, Kedah.^[2][3] He started his legal firm in 1970.^[4] Karpal is known for his expertise in the field of litigation.^[5] He has been praised for "defending the little man"^[3] and called "a friend to the oppressed and marginalised."^[6] Professor of Law at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Dr. Shad Saleem Faruqi has praised Karpal's legal team for their innovative interpretations which have helped people with difficult cases.^[6]

Death penalty[link]

He has been described as a leading opponent of the death penalty in Malaysia,^[7] and has successfully defended at least ten foreigners on serious drug charges which carry a mandatory death sentence.^[3] Nonetheless, in July 2010, he called for convicted child rapists to be sentenced to death.^[8]

Among his most high-profile cases include defending Australian drug trafficker Kevin Barlow who was executed in Malaysia in 1986.^[9] Barlow and fellow Australian Brian Chambers were convicted of trafficking heroin by the High Court in Penang in July 1985.^[10] He continued to fight to clear Barlow's name even after the execution.^[11] He also defended New Zealanders Lorraine Cohen and her son, Aaron, against heroin trafficking charges in 1987.^[12] They were both convicted, with Mrs Cohen sentenced to death and Aaron sentenced to life in prison. However, the death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1989 and they were subsequently pardoned and freed in 1996.^[13]

In 1977, he managed to persuade the king to pardon a 14-year old Chinese boy sentenced to death for possession of a firearm under the Internal Security Act, apparently by suggesting that to let the boy hang would be "politically explosive."^[3]

Anwar Ibrahim[link]

Karpal also represented former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the latter's sodomy trial of 1998.^[14] During the first trial in September 1999, he produced a pathological report confirming high levels of arsenic had been detected in Anwar's body, and accused the authorities of poisoning Anwar, charging:^[7]

"It could well be that someone out there wants to get rid of him ... even to the extent of murder...I suspect people in high places are responsible for this situation."

This accusation in court led to Karpal being charged under the Sedition Act in January 2000.^[15]

Karpal acted as the defence's lead counsel in Anwar's second sodomy trial, following fresh allegations in 2008.^[16] After a two-year trial, Anwar was acquitted on 10 January 2012.^[17]

Political career[link]

Entry into politics[link]

Karpal Singh joined the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in 1970, citing the party's multiracial political platform following the race riots in 1969.^[1][18] He was due to contest the 1974 general election in Penang, but withdrew after his father's death. However, following the persuasion of DAP national organising secretary Fan Yew Teng, Karpal ran for the Alor Setar parliamentary seat and Alor Setar Bandar state seat.^[1] He won the state seat and became the first DAP candidate to stand for and win a seat in Kedah.^[19]

In the 1978 general elections, Karpal won the Jelutong parliamentary seat and the Bukit Gelugor state seat. He held the Bukit Gelugor state seat until 1990, moving on to contest (but lose) the Sungai Pinang and Padang Kota seats in subsequent elections.

In 1989, Karpal accused Deputy Speaker D. P. Vijandran of acting in pornographic videotapes.^[20] The allegations were dismissed due to lack of evidence, but Vijandran resigned as deputy speaker in 1990.^[21] However, in 1992, Karpal produced the alleged videotape in parliament, and handed it over the Deputy Speaker Ong Tee Keat.^[21] Vijandran was convicted in May 1994 for fabricating evidence in an affidavit which sought a court order to stop his nephew from allegedly and distributing pornographic video tapes featuring him,^[22] but was acquitted in 1998 after appeal.^[23] In 2000, Karpal was ordered to pay Vijandran RM500,000 (later reduced to RM100,000 on appeal) in damages for defamation after accusing the latter of deliberately issuing a cheque to him from a closed account.^[24][25]

Wilderness[link]

In the 1999 election, Karpal, along with opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, lost his Jelutong parliamentary seat, which he had held for 21 years.^[14] The DAP had joined Barisan Alternatif, an opposition alliance with Parti Keadilan and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), a move strongly advocated by Karpal and Lim.^[26] Despite the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition suffering significant losses in the election, it was Keadilan and PAS that absorbed the gains, while the DAP's support eroded due to its supporters' suspicions of PAS and its hardline Islamic stance.^[27] Although the DAP actually gained seats, the party performed well below expectations, with Lim admitting that result was a "catastrophic defeat".^[28] Despite the setback, Karpal was retained as party deputy chairman, while Lim was elevated to chairman after the resignation of long-serving chairman Chen Man Hin.^[29]

He was one of the strongest opponents of PAS's plan to introduce hudud (Islamic codes of behaviour) into the Terengganu state legal system in 1999, even threatening to take the state government to court.^[30]

Return to parliament[link]

In the 2004 general election, Karpal returned to parliament with a 1,261-majority win in the new Bukit Gelugor seat.^[31] The DAP regained its position as the largest opposition party in parliament.^[32] Karpal took over as DAP National Chairman on 4 September 2004.^[33]

On 7 September 2004, Karpal was sanctioned for "misleading parliament" after claiming that MPs had to raise their right hand while taking the oath of office on 17 May. A report by the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee gave him three days to apologize or face a six month suspension.^[5][34] He refused to apologize and served the suspension.^[35][36]

"Political tsunami"[link]

Karpal Singh (seated on the left) holding a press conference at the Parliament building.

Karpal retained his seat in the 2008 election with a near 20-fold increased majority.^[37] The election saw historic gains for the opposition, who managed to deny the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN), a two-thirds majority in parliament for the first time.^[38] The three main opposition parties subsequently formed a formal coalition—Pakatan Rakyat.^[39]

Karpal was listed as the DAP's representative on Pakatan Rakyat's Shadow Ministry of Home Affairs Committee in July 2009.^[40]

In April 2010, he was suspended from parliament for ten days after calling the speaker a "dictator".^[41] In December that year, he was suspended again for six months along with opposition MPs Anwar Ibrahim, Azmin Ali and Sivarasa Rasiah. Anwar was suspended for stirring up controversy over the government's links with APCO Worldwide, while the rest rest were punished for making public the report by the Rights and Privileges Committee which found Anwar guilty before the report was presented to parliament.^[42]

In December 2011, Karpal and Penang second deputy chief minister P. Ramasamy feuded over the latter's purported accusation that dissidents within the DAP were plotting against him for not handing them projects and favours. Karpal labeled Ramasamy a "warlord" and asked for him to resign as deputy chief minister.^[43] Ramasamy retorted by asking the party to remove its "godfathers", in apparent reference to Karpal.^[43] The feud was resolved internally, while Ramasamy later denied ever making the plot accusation.^[44] At the DAP national conference in January 2012, Karpal closed ranks with Ramasamy and asked the party's "warlords and godfathers [to] stand together against Barisan Nasional."^[45]

Political views[link]

Karpal Singh has cited Mahatma Gandhi and John F. Kennedy as influences. The May 13 incident convinced him that Malaysia needed to take a multiracial course, hence he joined the DAP. Karpal has also commended the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman for promoting racial unity.^[1]

He strongly criticised the legal immunity granted to the hereditary Malay rulers in the original constitution, which was subsequently removed by the government in 1993.^[3][46]

He is a firm critic of Mahathir Mohamad's term as prime minister. "Political life is not what it used to be in Malaysia," he commented in 1993, specifically criticising the restriction on media coverage of the opposition.^[3] He has called for Mahathir to apologise for the latter's role in the 1988 constitutional crisis.^[47]

Karpal is also staunchly opposed to the notion of Malaysia as an Islamic state, arguing that the Constitution provides for a secular nation, with Islam as the official religion. He has been at loggerheads with Mahathir as well as fellow opposition party PAS over the issue.^[48] Karpal even once said "an Islamic state over my dead body" regarding the debate during a political speech which has led to him being portrayed as an enemy of Islam.^[1] He claims to have apologised for the matter.^[49]

Reputation[link]

Karpal is a controversial figure, and has been labelled along with fellow DAP politician Lim Kit Siang as a racial provocateur.^[50] He has been dubbed the "Tiger of Jelutong" by admirers having served as Jelutong MP for five terms.^[51] Karpal attributes the nickname to a confrontation with former Malaysian Indian Congress President Samy Vellu, when he told Samy, "he could be the lion, and I could be the tiger, because there are no lions in Malaysia!"^[1]

Controversies[link]

Karpal has clashed with government parliamentarians and assemblymen during debates. On two occasions in the Penang State Assembly, the speaker called in the police to have Karpal removed from the chamber.^[11] On both occasions, he ordered the policemen out, saying they had no right to be there, and then walked out on his own.^[11]

He once criticized the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) in the Dewan Rakyat for allegedly assaulting two men taken to the royal palace by the police, a move which drew heavy criticism from government members of parliament, who demanded that he apologise. He refused.^[11] Karpal even filed a lawsuit against the King, Sultan Iskandar, in 1986 on behalf of one of the allegedly assaulted men. He lost and the sultan allegedly named one of his dogs after him.^[3]

Karpal has served two six-month suspensions from parliament: in September 2004, for "misleading" parliament;^[35] and in December 2010, for contempt.^[42]

During a May 2008 parliamentary sitting, Karpal found himself at the centre of controversy again by calling fellow parliamentarian Bung Mokhtar Radin the "bigfoot from Kinabatangan."^[52] Moments later, he was mocked by Ibrahim Ali for not being able to stand up while speaking, which provoked a furore among opposition MPs.^[52] The following month, he received a death threat in the form of a bullet delivered to his law firm.^[53] In October, he received a two-day suspension from parliament for calling Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia "not serious" and "playful".^[54]

Detentions[link]

Karpal, along with many other opposition politicians, was detained without trial under the Internal Security Act during Operation Lalang in October 1987 for inciting "racial tension" in the country.^[15] He was released briefly (a few hours) in March 1988 in response to a habeas corpus application, but was rearrested and remained in prison until January 1989.^[55][3] Amnesty International deemed him a prisoner of conscience.^[15]

Sedition trials[link]

He was arrested in January 2000 under the Sedition Act along with four other opposition politicians and the editor of the Harakah Daily, the newspaper published by the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS).^[14] He was charged for making seditious remarks in court during Anwar's first corruption trial.^[56] This was the only known charge of sedition in any country in the Commonwealth of nations brought against a lawyer for remarks made in court in defence of a client.^[7] The charges were dropped in 2002.^[7][57]

In March 2009, Karpal was charged under the Sedition Act again for allegedly threatening to sue the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah in the wake of the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis. He had contended that the Sultan had acted beyond his constitutional powers while appointing Zambry Abdul Kadir as Menteri Besar.^[57][58] The charges were dismissed in June 2010 after the High Court determined that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case.^[59] However, the Court of Appeal reversed the acquittal in January 2012 and ordered Karpal to enter his defence.^[60]

Personal life[link]

Family[link]

Karpal Singh married Gurmit Kaur, eight years his junior, in July 1970. Gurmit's family was from Narathiwat, Thailand but moved to Penang when she was seven.^[1][4] They have five children and four grandchildren.^[4] His eldest son, Jagdeep is the Penang State Assemblyman for Datuk Keramat and second son, Gobind is the Member of Parliament for Puchong, Selangor. Another son, Ramkarpal and daughter Sangeet Kaur work in his law firm, while youngest son Man Karpal studied actuarial science.^[1]

His wife Gurmit described his detention from 1987 to 1989 as a "very big experience" and took a toll on her life, as she had to "be strong" for their young children.^[6] The initial stage of his disability also deeply upset her.^[4]

He and his wife have lived in Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur since 1994.^[4]

Accident and disability[link]

On January 28, 2005, Karpal was involved in an accident which has left him using a wheelchair. A car rammed into a taxi which he was sitting in from behind, causing severe contusion to his thoracic vertebrae. As a result, he suffers from sensory impairment and reduced motor strength, is unable to walk, or raise his right arm a few centimeters.^[4][51][53]

To suit his mobility needs, his seat in the Parliament chamber was moved to the back row to accommodate his wheelchair.^[51]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Karpal Singh — Official website
• Karpal Singh — Official Democratic Action Party profile
• Works by or about Karpal Singh in libraries (WorldCat catalog)