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Karpal Singh: Tiger of Jelutong
Karpal Singh is widely regarded as Malaysia’s best criminal and constitutional lawyer. His sudden death on 17 April 2014 in a horrific car accident – just a month after he was convicted of sedition in the High Court – shocked and saddened Malaysians to the core and left a deep void in the country’s legal and political landscape.
Karpal was a fearless advocate for justice and a defender of human rights in South East Asia, and has appeared in the Privy Council in London on a number of occasions before such appeals were abandoned by Malaysia. He is renowned for his defence of many people from many nations who have faced the death penalty under Malaysia's Dangerous Drugs Act.
In recent years, one of his biggest achievements was his successful defence of former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on two charges of sodomy in 2012. On the night he died, Karpal was still fighting for Anwar, who had been convicted once again of sodomy, and seeking to reassure him. He told the Opposition leader in a telephone call he would do his best in the prosecution’s ‘fast-tracked’ Federal Court of Appeal. Indeed Karpal had Anwar’s files with him in his vehicle when the fateful crash occurred.
In this revised and updated edition, veteran journalist Tim Donoghue completes the biography of Malaysia’s tenacious and principled lawyer-politician.
Karpal was a fearless advocate for justice and a defender of human rights in South East Asia, and has appeared in the Privy Council in London on a number of occasions before such appeals were abandoned by Malaysia. He is renowned for his defence of many people from many nations who have faced the death penalty under Malaysia's Dangerous Drugs Act.
In recent years, one of his biggest achievements was his successful defence of former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on two charges of sodomy in 2012. On the night he died, Karpal was still fighting for Anwar, who had been convicted once again of sodomy, and seeking to reassure him. He told the Opposition leader in a telephone call he would do his best in the prosecution’s ‘fast-tracked’ Federal Court of Appeal. Indeed Karpal had Anwar’s files with him in his vehicle when the fateful crash occurred.
In this revised and updated edition, veteran journalist Tim Donoghue completes the biography of Malaysia’s tenacious and principled lawyer-politician.
325 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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109 people want to read
About the author
Tim Donoghue
3 books4 followersTim Donoghue is a journalist with the Dominion Post newspaper based in Wellington, New Zealand. He has been a frequent visitor to Malaysia since 1986 when he began covering the drugs trafficking case of the New Zealand mother and son, Lorraine and Aaron Cohen. He first discussed the possibility of writing this biography with Karpal Singh when he visited the lawyer at the Kamunting Detention Camp outside Taiping in 1988.
As a journalist Donoghue’s many international assignments have seen him make more than 20 trips to China. He also covered the first Gulf War from Saudi Arabia and travelled throughout the middle-eastern countries affected by the war zone. He is the author of three books including The Tiger Who Smiled (1990), which tells the story of how Karpal Singh helped the Cohens escape the gallows by the 'skin of their teeth'.
As a journalist Donoghue’s many international assignments have seen him make more than 20 trips to China. He also covered the first Gulf War from Saudi Arabia and travelled throughout the middle-eastern countries affected by the war zone. He is the author of three books including The Tiger Who Smiled (1990), which tells the story of how Karpal Singh helped the Cohens escape the gallows by the 'skin of their teeth'.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 2, 2013
To hate or love him, readers have to read this book. A well research and written book based on the life and turbulence of the life of one of Malaysian top criminal and constitution lawyer.
April 26, 2014
It does not matter how many times you think you are right in exercising capital punishment because life is always precious and we should not take God's action into our own hands. Moreover, what if you were wrong once?
That did not came straight out from the book but my impression of Karpal's life long challenge in battling capital punishment.
Half of the book talks about his legal battles as a criminal lawyer trying to defend the right and the wrong who are about to enter the gallows. The reason I included fighting for the wrong is because Karpal has always find capital punishment too harsh an end for any human, despite their crimes.
The first few chapters has especially put myself in a strange conflict, thinking heavily why was this respectable man so hard on in helping the communists in a time when communism was still a threat to our nation. It did not take me long to then realize his goal was not to support communism, but to end capital punishment.
After several decades of war at court and based on his more later cases, the number of pardons for criminals under the death penalty has, according to Karpal, increased. His work is finally making progress and that has shown how much of a fighter he is when battling not just the accusers, but the Judge, the Prime Minister, Sultans and even the Agung just to fight for a principle he holds dear to - justice.
Of course, Karpal paid the price like many other Sons of Malaysia when he entered prison in 1987 for inciting "racial tension". He was also sued for his seditious act against the Agong and was threatened by killers and cursed by bomohs to die a tragic death. Yet, he fights on, making him worthy of his title, the Tiger of Jelutong.
That did not came straight out from the book but my impression of Karpal's life long challenge in battling capital punishment.
Half of the book talks about his legal battles as a criminal lawyer trying to defend the right and the wrong who are about to enter the gallows. The reason I included fighting for the wrong is because Karpal has always find capital punishment too harsh an end for any human, despite their crimes.
The first few chapters has especially put myself in a strange conflict, thinking heavily why was this respectable man so hard on in helping the communists in a time when communism was still a threat to our nation. It did not take me long to then realize his goal was not to support communism, but to end capital punishment.
After several decades of war at court and based on his more later cases, the number of pardons for criminals under the death penalty has, according to Karpal, increased. His work is finally making progress and that has shown how much of a fighter he is when battling not just the accusers, but the Judge, the Prime Minister, Sultans and even the Agung just to fight for a principle he holds dear to - justice.
Of course, Karpal paid the price like many other Sons of Malaysia when he entered prison in 1987 for inciting "racial tension". He was also sued for his seditious act against the Agong and was threatened by killers and cursed by bomohs to die a tragic death. Yet, he fights on, making him worthy of his title, the Tiger of Jelutong.
March 8, 2020
Bit of a niche one, but one which I thought would be an interesting read given the current Malaysian political climate and the role that Karpal’s sons (particularly Gobind, who is rightly I think, described as being the most similar to his father). Like I’d expected, Karpal led an incredibly colourful life and the author did well to cover the grounds of his family’s immigration to Malaysia and the associated struggles, particularly in the early years. The story then moves on to Karpal’s adult life – where he starts a family of his own and becomes a lawyer, representing those who in the words of his son Gobind “don’t have a voice of their own”.
That’s pretty much where the good bits of the book ended for me, and I can’t help thinking Karpal would have been disappointed in this biography of his (it was published after his death, not sure how much input if any he had into it). There was far too much technicality, and case-listing, for my liking: Okay I get that he represented many people charged with drug trafficking, let’s move on already to the rest of his colourful life which was only mentioned in passing. I also get that getting people out of the gallows was a prominent part of Karpal’s life, but by no means was that his only purpose of living and I thought the listing one by one of the people he represented and how helpless their situations (let’s be frank, most of them were very similar to one another) were was trivialising the role that he had in the bigger picture. 3 stars.
That’s pretty much where the good bits of the book ended for me, and I can’t help thinking Karpal would have been disappointed in this biography of his (it was published after his death, not sure how much input if any he had into it). There was far too much technicality, and case-listing, for my liking: Okay I get that he represented many people charged with drug trafficking, let’s move on already to the rest of his colourful life which was only mentioned in passing. I also get that getting people out of the gallows was a prominent part of Karpal’s life, but by no means was that his only purpose of living and I thought the listing one by one of the people he represented and how helpless their situations (let’s be frank, most of them were very similar to one another) were was trivialising the role that he had in the bigger picture. 3 stars.
August 23, 2022
Learn about the cases and causes this indomitable man, Karpal Singh was engaged in, always free of agenda in the pursuit of justice. It can at times be a bit heavy going but the author tries his best to represent to us the phenomenal body of work.
A criminal lawyer, Karpal Singh handled dozens of cases involving the death sentence in Malaysia, which took incredible emotional courage. He had an illustrious political career as well and represented one-time Dy PM, Anwar Ibrahim to the end.
Growing up with one eye on Malaysian politics, he was an inspiring figure, and the world was a better place because he was in it. A great loss when he passed on, but he had already done so much, and it’s amazing to see his children take on active roles in law and politics.
A criminal lawyer, Karpal Singh handled dozens of cases involving the death sentence in Malaysia, which took incredible emotional courage. He had an illustrious political career as well and represented one-time Dy PM, Anwar Ibrahim to the end.
Growing up with one eye on Malaysian politics, he was an inspiring figure, and the world was a better place because he was in it. A great loss when he passed on, but he had already done so much, and it’s amazing to see his children take on active roles in law and politics.
April 24, 2014
Well written book on how a lawyer/politician challenged the Federal constitution & lives of the oppressed being defenced by the outspoken man. The horror of how the government use the Internal Security Act (ISA), Dangerous Drug Act, Firearms Act that brings mandatory death by hanging. The horror of the detailed story of prisoners send to the gallows was eerie. The Sedition Act is frequently used too. The ups & downs of the Tiger of Jelutong will always be in our mind. RIP.
November 27, 2020
A book on Karpal Singh as the lawyer and officer of justice. Starting from his childhood, to university days to practising law.
A story on list of significant criminal law cases and he perceived defending his client as act of upholding justice.
A bit of his political life.
A story on list of significant criminal law cases and he perceived defending his client as act of upholding justice.
A bit of his political life.
August 4, 2017
Buku yanh sederhana baik. Mengapa sederhana? Kerana saya rasa ia patut levbih tebal.
April 2, 2021
Not much details of his life in this book, which focuses primarily on his fight with capital punishments. A great person nonetheless, a Malaysian legend. RIP Tiger.
Singh is King.
Singh is King.
September 29, 2013
Interesting book of The Tiger
December 23, 2013
Seems structurally flawed and messy - jumping to different stories, making me dizzy sometimes. And no suitable breaks. Seems too focused on capital punishment, inducing morbid feeling at times.
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May 22, 2017Love this book very much!
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February 10, 2018A so-so book about an amazing man. Today, Malaysians fear so many things that it's good to have a reminder of someone who had a fulfilling life eventhough he never backed down from what he believed in - a better Malaysia.
The book starts off well, but gets mired in an endless series of court cases with way too much detail for my liking. Nonetheless, Karpal's story is amazing enough that it shines through
The book starts off well, but gets mired in an endless series of court cases with way too much detail for my liking. Nonetheless, Karpal's story is amazing enough that it shines through
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews