Post-mortem on missing cops at Karpal's funeral
Published: Apr 21, 2014 6:57 AM | Updated: Apr 21, 2014 1:05 PM
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has pledged to investigate why there were few police present to assist with crowd control at Karpal Singh's funeral procession yesterday.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has pledged to investigate why there were few police present to assist with crowd control at Karpal Singh's funeral procession yesterday.
"We hope the people can forgive and overlook any shortcomings during the public funeral.
"The police did not turn up, as planned, to conduct crowd control outside Dewan Sri Pinang,” Lim said in a statement.
"The state government will conduct a post-mortem to determine the reasons behind the police not turning up as planned, and work towards overcoming the weaknesses that may have caused any inconvenience to members of the public.”
Lim said he thanked the estimated 25,000 people attended the funeral.
"The mammoth crowd was unexpected. We wish to apologise to all who came from far and near but did not have the opportunity to pay their last respects to Karpal Singh," he said.
Yesterday Penang saw massive traffic jams in the vicinity of the funeral procession that stretched up to 2km.
Malaysiakini's observed there were no traffic police on duty to control the traffic flow in the morning.
Instead, the Penang government's volunteer squad helped to manage the heavy traffic along the route.
Emotions also ran high earlier when crowds waiting outside the hall were unable to get in to pay their last respects, due to the high turnout.
'Perhaps largest in Penang's history'
Meanwhiel Lim lauded some 3,000 motorcyclists who accompanied the cortege.
"This spontaneous send-off by the 3,000 motorcyclists, mostly from the working class, would have been most meaningful to Karpal as it showed the affection for Karpal that ordinary Malaysians hold in their hearts.”
Lim described the public funeral as "probably the largest in Penang's history".
"Let us fearlessly follow Karpal in fighting for justice and rule of law as the bedrock of prosperity of our nation and economy.
"Let us show the same courage as Karpal, in not only doing the right thing but doing it right. Whether young or old, we best remember Karpal by moving forward to ensure that no one can steal our children’s future.”
Karpal's remains were cremated at 2.35pm at the Batu Gantung crematorium after a funeral with state honours.
His family collected the ashes this morning, which will be scattered at sea. They have requested privacy for the ceremony.
"We hope the people can forgive and overlook any shortcomings during the public funeral."The police did not turn up, as planned, to conduct crowd control outside Dewan Sri Pinang,” Lim said in a statement.
"The state government will conduct a post-mortem to determine the reasons behind the police not turning up as planned, and work towards overcoming the weaknesses that may have caused any inconvenience to members of the public.”
Lim said he thanked the estimated 25,000 people attended the funeral.
"The mammoth crowd was unexpected. We wish to apologise to all who came from far and near but did not have the opportunity to pay their last respects to Karpal Singh," he said.
Yesterday Penang saw massive traffic jams in the vicinity of the funeral procession that stretched up to 2km.Malaysiakini's observed there were no traffic police on duty to control the traffic flow in the morning.
Instead, the Penang government's volunteer squad helped to manage the heavy traffic along the route.
Emotions also ran high earlier when crowds waiting outside the hall were unable to get in to pay their last respects, due to the high turnout.
'Perhaps largest in Penang's history'
Meanwhiel Lim lauded some 3,000 motorcyclists who accompanied the cortege.
"This spontaneous send-off by the 3,000 motorcyclists, mostly from the working class, would have been most meaningful to Karpal as it showed the affection for Karpal that ordinary Malaysians hold in their hearts.”
Lim described the public funeral as "probably the largest in Penang's history"."Let us fearlessly follow Karpal in fighting for justice and rule of law as the bedrock of prosperity of our nation and economy.
"Let us show the same courage as Karpal, in not only doing the right thing but doing it right. Whether young or old, we best remember Karpal by moving forward to ensure that no one can steal our children’s future.”
Karpal's remains were cremated at 2.35pm at the Batu Gantung crematorium after a funeral with state honours.
His family collected the ashes this morning, which will be scattered at sea. They have requested privacy for the ceremony.
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