The late DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh was one of those detained under the infamous Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) dragnet of 1987.

The politician, known for not mincing words and his ferociousness, remained a staunch critic of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad until his tragic death in a road accident in 2014.

Karpal's daughter Sangeet Kaur Deo believes that if her father was still alive, he would not have approved of Pakatan Harapan naming Mahathir as its prime minister candidate.

"Based on his previous statements, I think he would not have agreed," she told Malaysiakini.

Mahathir was also not too fond of Karpal, whom he described as “the most contemptible of politicians and individuals” in a letter penned in 2008.

According to a 2013 news report on the late politician's biography, "Karpal Singh: Tiger of Jelutong", Mahathir's letter was in response to Karpal's letter a year earlier.

Karpal had asked the former premier to make an unreserved apology to former lord president Salleh Abas and former supreme court judges Wan Suleiman Pawanteh and George Seah and their families for the 1988 judicial crisis.

Refusing to apologise, Mahathir wrote: “You are moved by pure hatred and I cannot respond to people who can never accept reality… My conscience is clear. I have done what was my duty and I owe nobody an apology. I am sure you will make use of this letter to dirty my name further. That is your right. I think you are the most contemptible of politicians and individuals.”

According to the news report, Karpal had never disclosed the letter until it was published in his biography.

Sangeet: This is my personal view

Meanwhile, Sangeet, who made headlines for expressing her reservations about Mahathir being named as Harapan's prime minister candidate, said this was her personal view which was posted on Facebook after the Harapan convention on Sunday.

"My personal stand is my personal stand.

"My allegiance remains with DAP without any doubt," said the Wanita DAP international secretary.

Commenting further, Sangeet said she has accepted Harapan's decision on Mahathir.

"The decision has been made. And it is to be accepted.

“But DAP will constantly be reminded to stay true to their core principles without compromise. And they will be called out when they don't," she added.

Asked whether her stand had courted flak from DAP, Sangeet said she was entitled to her personal views.

At the same time, Sangeet also said she had raised her personal concerns about Mahathir with DAP's leaders "from the very beginning" and believed that it had been noted.

Among others, the lawyer, in her Facebook post, said Harapan's move was an indication that its focus had strayed from developing policies and principles to relying on personalities.

She also said Harapan's argument that working with Mahathir was only to ensure change no longer holds water, as it could see a return of oppressive policies which were implemented during his 22-year reign in power.

Mahathir, she added, only issued a half-hearted apology for the arrests under the ISA and other injustices during his premiership.

"DAP has always been the voice against abuse of power, freedom of the press, independence of the judiciary, sanctity of our institutions, et cetera.

"DAP, I can’t hear you," she ended her post.

Karpal's three sons in DAP, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh and Datuk Keramat assemblyperson Jagdeep Singh Deo have not commented on their sister's remarks.