Thousands attend funeral of Malaysian politician
Thousands of people yesterday joined the funeral procession of a senior Malaysian politician and lawyer who was killed in a traffic accident last week.
Opposition and ruling party politicians were among those who gathered at the house of Karpal Singh at dawn in George Town in the northern state of Penang, about 290 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur.
Singh, 74, former chairman of the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP), died when his van collided with a lorry before dawn on Thursday on a highway in the nearby state of Perak.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said Singh had taught Malaysians to defend their rights.
“Karpal showed us how not to fear the government,” he said in his eulogy. “Let us mourn and also honour him by realising his integrity, fight for freedom.”
Mourners who joined the funeral were dressed in black and white, with many wearing small stickers with the politician’s image on them.
Police have detained the lorry driver involved in the accident after he tested positive for drugs.
Singh’s aide was also killed in the crash.
