Malaysians are yet to finish devouring the recently published books of two former premiers with scathing remarks on the country's political scenario, another by a colourful veteran politician is set to be launched soon.

The 325 -page book titled 'Karpal Singh: Tiger of Jelutong', will be the third - a biography - to be available on the market soon, in the wake of Malaysia's Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew.

karpal singh pc in penangKarpal (left) said the book written by New Zealand's general news reporter Tim Donoghue, 64, took 26 years to be ready.

"The book was complete in 1999 but at that time I thought it was not appropriate to publish as I had lost the Jelutong seat that year," he said.

"When I won the Bukit Gelugor seat, I felt it was time but then many things happened, and so finally now, it is time to publish it," he added.

The book, published by Singapore's Marshall and Cavendish, will be launched in Malaysia soon, said Karpal

Genesis of the book

It would be mostly based on his political and legal careers, said the popular and veteran lawyer.

Karpal said the writer first met him in Penang in 1987, soon after Australians Kevin Barlow, his client and Geoffrey Chambers went to the gallows of Kuala Lumpur's Pudu Jail.

Donoghue was the Hong Kong based New Zealand Press Association's Asia correspondent at the time.

NONEHe was also a frequent visitor to Malaysia between 1986 to 1990 when he covered the drug trafficking trial of New Zealand mother and son Lorraine and Aaron Cohen in Penang.

Both mother and son were sentenced to death, but with Karpal's defending them, the duo escaped the noose.

Karpal said Donoghue first discussed writing the book - which is aptly dedicated to "the executed" during his (Karpal's) incarceration - twice - in Kamunting in 1988 under the Internal Security Act.