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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Lessons from Karpal - in life and death


COMMENT 'Lives of great men remind us, we can make our lives sublime and departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time.' (American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

After a long hiatus, I decided to go for a massage.

Aware that the above statement could set in motion a train of thoughts heading south, let me stop it in its tracks by clarifying that it was not at one of those parlours of ill repute that promises patrons, in coded language, a volcanic rub down that culminates in an eruption.

This was flesh-kneading and bone-grinding by a trained blind masseur. Wak is in his fifties but still as strong as an ox.

As I cringed and writhed in pain, Wak kept chattering, ignoring my predicament as always. According to him, pain means the massage is working, so one should not complain.

"Dia tu berani... Semua orang respect dia. Sayang dia dah mati...," he rambled on. (He was brave... Everyone respected him. It is a pity, that he is dead).

I could tell that Wak was rather emotional for the pressure increased and his hands dug deeper into my flesh. All I could do was muster intermittent croaks in agreement.

But the pain interrupted my cerebral functions and so I popped the question punctuated by groans, "Siapa... yang... mati... Wak?"

His fingers stopped moving. And in an annoyed tone, he thundered: "Karpal Singh lah!"

When I apologised for my ignorance, Wak shook his head in disappointment and continued the massage as well as his thoughts on the late politician.

"Dia tak takut... Tak kira siapa pun, sultan ke, menteri ke, dia bantai je... Masuk penjara pun tak risau. Dulu pun masuk ISA, keluar pun tak tukar..."

(He was unafraid... He did not care who you were, sultan or minister, he would take you to task. He was not daunted about landing in prison. Even after coming out of ISA detention, he never changed).

After the hour-long session, we had a conversation about the many feathers in Karpal's cap, which were accumulated over the decades as an outstanding lawyer and principled politician.

"Walaupun saya tak pernah tengok wajah dia, dengar suara dia kat TV pun dah tahu... Ini orang bukan main-main punya. Bukan mudah patah semangat. Saya dengar dia pergi makhamah, itu hakim pun takut," Wak said in a tone that failed to conceal his sadness.

(Although I have not seen him, I could tell from his voice that this was a man you cannot fool around with and someone whose spirit is not easily broken. I have heard that when he went to court, even the judges become fearful).

Karpal was one of those politicians, who before the advent of social media and in the midst of stringent government control over the dissemination of information, especially dissenting views, still managed to become a household name.

Be it in rural areas or the cities, Malaysians knew who this tiger was and had heard its ferocious roar.

Despite his age and an accident leaving him a paraplegic almost a decade ago, Karpal had showed little if no signs of slowing down. The tiger was just as fierce even when confined to a wheelchair.

So it comes as no surprise that some 15, 000 people turned up at his funeral to bid farewell to him, while tens of thousands more, from all walks of life, irrespective of colour and creed, mourned the loss from a distance.

Some had travelled from all corners of the nation, not considering the cost incurred in terms of fuel and toll, to pay their last respects.

And while his remains have been reduced to ashes, his words and deeds would remain immortal and serve to inspire generations to come, both in law and politics.

Time for introspection

As I was driving back, I thought about those who had trivialised and insulted his death such as the likes of Zulkifli Noordin and Nawawi Ahmad.

Coming under intense criticism for their mindless remarks, Nawawi had since expressed regret while Zulkifli attempted to salve the damage with an article praising Karpal's courtroom bravado.

Those who belittled Karpal's death should do a little introspection and measure the accomplishments of their own lives before death comes knocking on their doors.

And when the time arrives for them to discard their mortal encasements, their titles and riches, would there be an outpouring of grief? Or would it evoke feelings to the contrary?

Would people be willing to drive a mile out of genuine sorrow let alone hundreds of miles like those who did for Karpal?

To make matters more unpalatable is that the death of a man who has touched countless of lives was mocked and celebrated in the name of religion.

Religion is about compassion and should not imbue heartlessness in the faithful and prompt them to sow seeds of division and contempt.

Reprimanding those who mocked Karpal's death, a Muslim letter writer in the Star had revealed how Prophet Muhammad stood up when a funeral procession passed by.

And when those around him protested, saying that it was the funeral of a Jew, the prophet had replied: "Is he not a human being?"

This was not the first time that Zulkifli (right), who portrays himself as a man of piety, had peddled words of hate nor do I believe that it would be the last.

Despite this, the powers-that-be saw it fit to name him as a candidate in the last general election, a move that speaks volumes about the mindset of Karpal's political adversaries.

What more Nawawi, the BN-Umno MP for Langkawi.

It appears that BN is where those who fail the test of common sense and decency can thrive and ascend to the pinnacle of power.

Perhaps Karpal's life and death should serve as a lesson to all politicians to look into the depths of their souls. Remember, what goes around, comes around.

And as for the upcoming by-election in the tiger's den of Bukit Gelugor where Karpal's cub is expected to bare his fangs, BN and MCA might as well not contest as a mark of respect for its veteran foe and avoid being mauled again.

The outcome for the parliamentary seat - which Karpal retained in the last general election with a majority of more than 40,000 votes - is a forgone conclusion.



RK ANAND is a member of the Malaysiakini team.

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