KUANTAN, 24 April 2009: Karpal Singh fell from his wheelchair as he was being carried up the stairs at the High Court complex here to attend a hearing involving Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and logging company Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd here today.
The Bukit Gelugor member of parliament who was also an attorney for Seruan Gemilang, was being carried by several aides up the stairs in his wheelchair when they lost balance, causing Karpal to fall.
“It’s time for us to have a good system with facilities for the disabled. Fortunately nothing happened to me. If there was, there’ll be another by-election,” he told reporters after the court proceedings.
He said this was the first time he fell from the wheelchair. His back hurt and at first, it was hard to move his hands after the incident, he said.
Karpal, 69, became wheelchair-bound after a road accident on the way home from the Bayan Lepas International Airport in Penang on 29 Jan 2005.
Today’s court proceedings were to hear the menteri besar’s application for a stay of execution of a RM63 million judgement in favour of Seruan Gemilang following a suit for a breach of agreement allegedly committed by the Pahang government.
In court, Karpal and co-counsel Rajoo D Moothy asked Justice Datuk V T Singham for more time to reply to an affidavit filed by Adnan who was represented by lawyer Datuk Shafie Abdullah and State Legal Adviser Datuk Mat Zara’Ai Alias on 22 April.
Following this, the court postponed the hearing to 30 April. — Bernama
Steven says
Should we even be surprised that courts everywhere in Malaysia (other than the KL Court Complex) are in such a bad shape, especially for the disabled?
OrangRojak says
“Fortunately nothing happened to me. If there was, there’ll be another by-election”
Hahahahaha! Karpal is a hero – I hope he recovers from his tumble quickly.