By Anwar Ibrahim, Leader of Pakatan Rakyat

“He gave his honours to the world again,
His blessed part to heaven, and…henceforth, will now sleep in peace.”

At almost 3 this morning I awoke to the shocking news of the death of one of the nation’s most illustrious heroes – YB Karpal Singh. It came like a lightning bolt to me because just last evening, I had had a lengthy chat with him.

After getting hold of myself, I then twittered a short condolence expressing deep sorrow and devastation over the loss of “our indefatigable fighter for justice”. Once again, Azizah and family offer our deepest condolences to Gurmit Kaur, Gobind, Ram and the rest of the family. May you all remain strong in this great hour of tribulation.

Indeed, words cannot express enough my profound sadness of the passing away of my brother-in-arms for freedom and democracy, an inspiring symbol for the struggle against oppression and injustice and a man of unimpeachable moral integrity.

The nation has lost one of her most dedicated servants. The people have lost  a selfless , courageous and noble defender of their fundamental liberties. The legal fraternity has lost one of it’s sharpest minds and I have lost a true friend, kind in words, noble in deed.

“Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.”

And so it was with our hero Karpal Singh for there is none more valiant in life than this great mortal whose body may have perished but his spirit shall live on with us.

*This article first appeared in anwaribrahimblog.com