The late Karpal Singh should be honoured by being placed on the same rank as Mahatma Gandhi for his courage and bravery in challenging the authorities through most of his life, former United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Param Cumaraswamy says.

"Karpal's conviction under the Sedition Act recently is an honour. It should be a tribute to him to be placed on the same ranks as Mahatma Gandhi," Param ( left ) told Malaysiakini after paying his last respects to his friend at Karpal’s house on Jalan Utama.

When he himself was charged under the Sedition Act by the British, Gandhi, who fought for the independence of India, called the charge a privilege and an honour.

On March 11, Karpal was found guilty of sedition and fined RM4,000 for insulting the Perak Sultan over the ruler’s decision for BN to take over the Perak government from Pakatan Rakyat, instead of calling for a fresh election, after three assemblymen quit Pakatan in 2009 and declared themselves "BN friendly".

Param said he personally knew Karpal, who suffered from back problems after being detained during Operasi Lalang in 1987 and incarcerated at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping, for two years  under the Internal Security Act.

"I remember asking the then inspector-general of police Hanif Omar to allow Karpal to seek treatment from a specialist," Param recalled.

"The IGP told me that he was sorry, but Karpal cannot be treated by a specialist. However, he will be attended to by doctors from the General Hospital instead."

Carry on with his struggles, DAP urged

Param, a former Bar Council chairperson, urged DAP to carry on with the struggles of its former leader, especially in defending the Federal Constitution and Karpal’s rejection of hudud, for which Kelantan is currently seeking Parliament's support to implement in the state.

On whether he sees anyone filling Karpal's big shoes, Param said, "His children will eventually catch up."

Karpal, 74, leaves behind an illustrious career in law and politics, and is survived by his wife, Gurmit Kaur, and children Jagdeep, Gobind, Sangeet, Ram Karpal and Man Karpal.

He died early yesterday, in a tragic car crash near the Gopeng exit of the North-South Expressway as he, together with four others, including his son Ram Karpal, were heading for Penang from Kuala Lumpur.

His longtime helper, Michael Cornelius, 39, an Indian national, also died on the spot.

Param said Karpal often told him that his first love was law, that politics came second.

"For me, his most memorable case was that of Public Prosecutor vs Khong Teng Khen in 1979, which is related to the constitutional law in Malaysia," Param said.

"Karpal challenged the Federal Court, which had then held that the Essential (Special Cases) Regulations 1975 (Escar) was in line with and valid under the Constitution of Malaysia.

"We fought against that and the Bar Council that time also issued several strong statements on the matter," he added.

Later, in the Teng Cheng Poh case, the Privy Council held that the Escar was ultra vires the federal constitution and it was thus declared null and void.

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