In the midst of deep mourning and intense sorrow after two lives were lost in a tragic road accident, one man was forgotten and forsaken.
Judged even before he was tried in court, C. Selvam from India was left high and dry in Taiping Prison after he was charged with reckless driving and causing the deaths of Karpal Singh and his assistant Michael Cornelius.
Languishing in prison where no one visited him or bothered to post his bail, he was consumed with sadness until Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) vice president Huan Cheng Guan did so on humanitarian grounds.
Kindness and compassion costs nothing. It is simply a matter of having the will to do it.
DAP, on the other hand, has been defensive of its failure to help Selvam.
According to its Legal Bureau chief, Gobind Singh Deo, DAP was unable to offer legal assistance to Selvam because the party is representing the families of Karpal and two others.
While that is true, I cannot fathom why it is wrong, impossible, even immoral for DAP or the families of the victims to at least visit Selvam, a man who faithfully served the late Karpal till his demise.
Was it completely impossible to arrange for legal aid from PKR or PAS?
Well, it appears that DAP uses a selective process when it comes to offering gestures of goodwill.
Just look at how Lim Kit Siang jumped at the opportunity to milk free publicity and political mileage by offering free legal service (even though she did not ask for it) to a a certain well-off but rude woman who assaulted an old man on the road.
How can anyone leave a faithful and loyal employee in the lurch to suffer in prison for almost a month with the lame excuse that it would be unethical to legally assist him?
There are other alternatives, but none was explored by DAP.
Such cold-heartedness clearly indicates that DAP has already judged Selvam and passed the verdict of guilty although he has yet to be tried in court.
Selvam was employed by the late Karpal’s family. If the court finds him guilty, then the family members themselves can be tried for the driver’s negligence. Clearly, they have chosen not to acknowledge this.
After the tragic accident, few if any interviewed Selvam.
The news focus was first on the demise of Karpal Singh, and then it switched to the lorry driver, who was found to be high on drugs and who switched lanes without flashing his indicator.
Later, the Attorney-General chose to charge Selvam for reckless driving and, from then onwards, the loyal driver was forsaken and forgotten.
Well, it’s good to know that there are angels among us after all. Not only did Huan post bail for the driver, he also took him for a good KFC meal and followed that with a trip to Tesco.
Huan bought the driver new clothing, toiletries and a luggage bag. He also bought him a handphone and all the neccesary accessories so Selvam could get in touch with his family in India.
Selvam’s mother also spoke to Huan and cried throughout the telephone conversation.
Touched by his kindness, Selvam thanked Huan from his heart and promised he would never forget his gestures.
Huan also made arrangements for accommodation for Selvam and helped him renew his visa.
Here is a man of compassion, a man who saw another man’s plight and decided to help, even to the extent of staying on in Kampar until Selvam had engaged a lawyer to defend him.
Syabas!
Everyone deserves kindness and justice, both of which can be offered freely if one chooses to do so.
The burning question is why DAP chose to forsake Selvam by using legalities?
If DAP can be cold and callous even towards an employee of its former chairman, can the party be expected to fulfil the roles and responsibilities of governance with care and compassion?
Written by Arundati Chopra in Free Malaysia Today
Promoting Thinking Minds Via Rational Rationale
Showing posts with label Selvam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Selvam. Show all posts
Sunday, 10 August 2014
Friday, 8 August 2014
Shocking Report: Karpal's Driver Betrayed, Abandoned and Neglected
Here's a riveting and eye-opening report by Athi Shankar of Free Malaysia Today. The world has to know the truth. Please read and share as much as you can - the sad, tragic story of C Selvam, driver of the late Karpal Singh. Thank you, Datuk Huan, for saving him and for your kindness. Thank you, Athi and FMT for featuring this important report.
GEORGE TOWN: The former driver of the late Karpal Singh, C Selvam, 27, feels hollow, abandoned and betrayed by his employer’s family after being left to languish in Taiping prison for more than a month.
Although Selvam is out on bail, thanks to the timely intervention of Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Huan Cheng Guan, the Indian national has been struggling to pull himself together, crying and grieving in jail pending trial.
Selvam did not know anyone in Malaysia except his employer Karpal and his family and never thought for a moment he would be abandoned and left to rot in a “foreign” jail.
During his remand, he prayed daily for Karpal’s family to bail him out but help never came.
He recalled that not a single member of Karpal’s family visited him in Taiping prison.
No representatives from the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur visited Selvam, who is from Velore in Tamil Nadu, India.
Selvam claimed that his belongings, last left in Karpal’s home in Kuala Lumpur, were never returned to him.
When he was finally bailed out, Selvam was shocked to find out that he was saved by an unknown “Chinese Datuk.”
He is now grateful to Huan and the Datuk, whom he had never met before, for bailing him out.
Huan posted bail of RM5,000 last Monday and Selvam was released the next day.
“I was crying in jail every day, thinking of my family in India, my late boss and my friend Micheal Cornelius.
When I was told someone posted bail for me, I thought it was Karpal’s family.”
“I was shocked when I found out it was a Chinese Datuk. I felt betrayed, abandoned and hollow.
“When I met Huan at the courthouse in Kampar, I thanked him for taking me out of prison.
“He is like a god to me now,” said a relieved Selvam.
Huan bought new clothes for Selvam and a mobile phone for him to contact his parents and two younger siblings in India.
Selvam will be under Huan’s care pending his case in Kampar.
Huan has sought the help of Gerakan’s legal and human rights national bureau chairman Baljit Singh to provide legal aid for Selvam.
Selvam was charged with dangerous and reckless driving on July 9 under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of RM5,000 which he could not afford.
The charge carries a maximum jail term of 10 years or RM20,000 fine or both, upon conviction.
The case management is on Sept 5.
Selvam was driving Karpal’s Toyota Alphard when it collided with a lorry on the North-South Expressway near Kampar on April 17.
The accident killed Karpal, 74, and his aide Michael, 39, on the spot.
Karpal’s Indonesian maid Selfiana Rengga, 26, who was also in the vehicle was seriously injured but has since recovered.
Selvam and Karpal’s third son Ramkarpal Singh escaped with minor injuries.
After the accident, Selvam said he was sent on the same day by a DAP politician to stay with a relative of Karpal in Ipoh pending police investigation.
“The family took good care of me,” said Selvam, adding that he only saw Karpal’s daughter Sangeet Kaur twice during his stay there.
Selvam said he was dropped off at the Kampar police station by the relative’s driver on July 9.
Police took him to the court to be charged.
“I was left all alone, stranded and devastated not knowing why I was charged,” he said.
Selvam became Karpal’s employee on Sept 27 2013 to provide for his poor family in India.
“I told my parents that I would be working for a famous political and legal family,” he said.
Selvam said he was not supposed to drive Karpal back to Penang on that fateful day. However, when Karpal asked him why he was not ready, Selvam quickly got dressed and drove the vehicle.
At first, Selvam was hired to work as an assistant to Micheal for RM1,500 monthly to provide nursing care for Karpal.
“Micheal told me it would be advantageous if I had a driving licence,” he said.
However, Selvam claimed he was used as a driver, office boy and gardener, waking up before 6am and sleeping after midnight daily.
Selvam and Micheal stayed in Karpal’s home in Kuala Lumpur most of the time and travelled with the politician everywhere, including Penang, mostly during the wee hours.
Besides being a family driver, Selvam helped Micheal to care for Karpal, carry legal documents, as well as cleaning the garden and watering the plants.
He and Micheal were not provided any meals although they were provided accommodation in Karpal’s house.
“Sometimes we will eat out or cook on our own. At times we will pack food and eat at home. But all meals are our own,” said Selvam.
After a few months, Selvam felt stressed and burdened by the heavy workload.
He told Micheal in March that he wanted to resign and return to India where he had secured a job.
“Micheal said he will speak to the boss and arrange for my departure in May. But it did not happen,” he said.
Selvam said he was not supposed to drive Karpal back to Penang on that fateful day.
He said before departing from Kuala Lumpur on that day, he had been ferrying Karpal and several family members to various destinations.
After they returned home, he said Micheal had advised him to take a good rest and instead drive Karpal’s wife Gurmit Kaur to Penang the next day.
Micheal told Selvam that he would ask Ramkarpal to take the wheels instead.
However, when Karpal asked him why he was not ready, Selvam quickly got dressed and drove the vehicle.
Now, all Selvam wants is to go back to India.
GEORGE TOWN: The former driver of the late Karpal Singh, C Selvam, 27, feels hollow, abandoned and betrayed by his employer’s family after being left to languish in Taiping prison for more than a month.
Although Selvam is out on bail, thanks to the timely intervention of Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Huan Cheng Guan, the Indian national has been struggling to pull himself together, crying and grieving in jail pending trial.
Selvam did not know anyone in Malaysia except his employer Karpal and his family and never thought for a moment he would be abandoned and left to rot in a “foreign” jail.
During his remand, he prayed daily for Karpal’s family to bail him out but help never came.
He recalled that not a single member of Karpal’s family visited him in Taiping prison.
No representatives from the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur visited Selvam, who is from Velore in Tamil Nadu, India.
Selvam claimed that his belongings, last left in Karpal’s home in Kuala Lumpur, were never returned to him.
When he was finally bailed out, Selvam was shocked to find out that he was saved by an unknown “Chinese Datuk.”
He is now grateful to Huan and the Datuk, whom he had never met before, for bailing him out.
Huan posted bail of RM5,000 last Monday and Selvam was released the next day.
“I was crying in jail every day, thinking of my family in India, my late boss and my friend Micheal Cornelius.
When I was told someone posted bail for me, I thought it was Karpal’s family.”
“I was shocked when I found out it was a Chinese Datuk. I felt betrayed, abandoned and hollow.
“When I met Huan at the courthouse in Kampar, I thanked him for taking me out of prison.
“He is like a god to me now,” said a relieved Selvam.
Huan bought new clothes for Selvam and a mobile phone for him to contact his parents and two younger siblings in India.
Selvam will be under Huan’s care pending his case in Kampar.
Huan has sought the help of Gerakan’s legal and human rights national bureau chairman Baljit Singh to provide legal aid for Selvam.
Selvam was charged with dangerous and reckless driving on July 9 under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of RM5,000 which he could not afford.
The charge carries a maximum jail term of 10 years or RM20,000 fine or both, upon conviction.
The case management is on Sept 5.
Selvam was driving Karpal’s Toyota Alphard when it collided with a lorry on the North-South Expressway near Kampar on April 17.
The accident killed Karpal, 74, and his aide Michael, 39, on the spot.
Karpal’s Indonesian maid Selfiana Rengga, 26, who was also in the vehicle was seriously injured but has since recovered.
Selvam and Karpal’s third son Ramkarpal Singh escaped with minor injuries.
After the accident, Selvam said he was sent on the same day by a DAP politician to stay with a relative of Karpal in Ipoh pending police investigation.
“The family took good care of me,” said Selvam, adding that he only saw Karpal’s daughter Sangeet Kaur twice during his stay there.
Selvam said he was dropped off at the Kampar police station by the relative’s driver on July 9.
Police took him to the court to be charged.
“I was left all alone, stranded and devastated not knowing why I was charged,” he said.
Selvam became Karpal’s employee on Sept 27 2013 to provide for his poor family in India.
“I told my parents that I would be working for a famous political and legal family,” he said.
Selvam said he was not supposed to drive Karpal back to Penang on that fateful day. However, when Karpal asked him why he was not ready, Selvam quickly got dressed and drove the vehicle.
At first, Selvam was hired to work as an assistant to Micheal for RM1,500 monthly to provide nursing care for Karpal.
“Micheal told me it would be advantageous if I had a driving licence,” he said.
However, Selvam claimed he was used as a driver, office boy and gardener, waking up before 6am and sleeping after midnight daily.
Selvam and Micheal stayed in Karpal’s home in Kuala Lumpur most of the time and travelled with the politician everywhere, including Penang, mostly during the wee hours.
Besides being a family driver, Selvam helped Micheal to care for Karpal, carry legal documents, as well as cleaning the garden and watering the plants.
He and Micheal were not provided any meals although they were provided accommodation in Karpal’s house.
“Sometimes we will eat out or cook on our own. At times we will pack food and eat at home. But all meals are our own,” said Selvam.
After a few months, Selvam felt stressed and burdened by the heavy workload.
He told Micheal in March that he wanted to resign and return to India where he had secured a job.
“Micheal said he will speak to the boss and arrange for my departure in May. But it did not happen,” he said.
Selvam said he was not supposed to drive Karpal back to Penang on that fateful day.
He said before departing from Kuala Lumpur on that day, he had been ferrying Karpal and several family members to various destinations.
After they returned home, he said Micheal had advised him to take a good rest and instead drive Karpal’s wife Gurmit Kaur to Penang the next day.
Micheal told Selvam that he would ask Ramkarpal to take the wheels instead.
However, when Karpal asked him why he was not ready, Selvam quickly got dressed and drove the vehicle.
Now, all Selvam wants is to go back to India.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)