The Malaysian Gurdwaras Council is grieved by the untimely death of Karpal Singh. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. May waheguru give them strength to bear the loss with fortitude.

We remember the late Karpal Singh as a legal eagle, a righteous man who fought for justice and rule of law without fear or favour. Until his last day he stood tall, incorruptible and a defender of truth and the constitution.

A lesser man with late Karpal’s disability would have given up long ago on life but Karpal until his last moment was on his way to Penang to attend to a court case to uphold justice.

It is customary for Sikhs to pray for departed souls and we expect Gurdwaras to pray for late Karpal’s soul to be given a place of bliss in the presence of God. The Malaysian Gurdwaras Council will organise a prayer for the late Karpal’s soul on a date to be announced later.

Karpal’s going away is a national loss. He fought for righteousness, justice, rule of law, and rights for all races. His sudden passing away has shocked many and during Karpal’s struggle for justice for all Malaysians, he had to undergo personal suffering and severe curtailment of his liberties.

The late Karpal Singh was also an internationally acknowledged legal giant. His conviction on a charge of sedition last month had drawn rebuke from more than a dozen international jurist organisations.

We believe that Karpal’s struggle for justice will not be in vain as many righteous persons will step in to keep the flame of justice burning and carry it further.

The writer is president of Malaysian Gurdwaras Council.