GEORGE TOWN – Nearly 12 years after the passing of revered DAP stalwart and lawyer, the late Datuk Seri Karpal Singh, his strength and tenacity—both in and out of the courtroom—remain fondly remembered by his eldest son, Jagdeep Singh Deo.
In an exclusive interview with Scoop, Jagdeep recalled his father’s formidable presence in court, noting how his fiery conduct often left presiding judges stunned.
Reflecting on a pivotal moment in his father’s life, Jagdeep recounted the events of January 28, 2005, when Karpal was involved in a car accident in Kuala Lumpur.
The incident occurred when a vehicle struck the taxi he was travelling in from behind, causing severe bruising to his thoracic vertebrae.
The accident left him with sensory impairment and reduced motor strength, rendering him unable to walk or raise his right arm beyond a few centimetres.
At the time, Jagdeep, then a practising lawyer, was in the capital for an arbitration case. He offered to drive his father back to Penang, but Karpal declined, insisting he had a party meeting to attend that day before flying home.
Upon arriving in Penang, Jagdeep received a devastating call from his mother, Datin Gurmit Kaur, informing him of his father’s accident.
“I asked: what accident? What are you talking about? He was (going) to take a flight back to Penang. But (I was told that) he was in the taxi and he was not good at all outside and people had to help him on the road,” said Jagdeep during the interview at his office in Komtar.
“So I rushed (back to Kuala Lumpur) where he was already sent to Gleneagles (Hospital). That was the beginning of his (life on a) wheelchair. That night, you know, sometimes you touch wood, God has his way.
“He wanted to fly back, and that (accident) happened. Although I wanted to take him back in my car, I was driving. But unfortunately, all these things happened.”
A stronger Karpal emerged
Despite the accident leaving Karpal paralysed, Jagdeep emphasised that his father’s resolve remained unshaken, and he continued to argue cases in court with characteristic fervour.
“…and the judges just do not know what to do with this man. At that time, I was still practising (law), and I could see the fire in his belly, you know,” he said.
However, Jagdeep acknowledged the immense challenges his father faced daily. He required constant assistance from his aide, the late Michael Cornelius Selvam Vellu, and his family stood by him throughout his ordeal.
“..and then I think, I don’t know why, the second (car accident) happened, (perhaps) maybe God said, enough. I want you. That’s all I can (say),” Jagdeep said, recalling the tragic accident on April 17, 2014, that claimed his father’s life at the age of 73.
Karpal died in a crash on the North–South Expressway near Gua Tempurung, Perak, alongside Cornelius when the Toyota Alphard minivan he was travelling in collided with a lorry carrying cement, steel, and tiles. His son Ramkarpal Singh, the minivan’s driver C. Selvam, and an Indonesian maid survived the accident.
Thousands of mourners attended Karpal’s funeral on April 20, which was held with full state honours in Penang. He was cremated at the Batu Gantong crematorium.
Karpal was survived by his wife, Gurmit, and his children Jagdeep, Ramkarpal, Gobind Singh Deo, Sangeet Kaur Deo, and Mankarpal Singh.
In recognition of his contributions, Karpal was posthumously conferred the Darjah Utama Pangkuan Negeri (DUPN) in 2020, carrying the title Datuk Seri Utama.
Additionally, the IJM Promenade in Lebuh Sungai Pinang was renamed Karpal Singh Drive in his honour.
Continuing his father’s legacy
Jagdeep, now serving his fourth term as Datuk Keramat assemblyman and as Penang Deputy Chief Minister II, expressed his wish that his father was still around to witness his achievements in politics.
“I wish he was here to see this, but he is not (around), so I have to work and continue what he told me to do, (which is that) all it takes is to work for the people and everything will fall into place.
“That is what he did. And I am here just to continue that mission and that vision.” – March 14, 2025