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Karpal Singh Ram Singh is the chairman of DAP, replacing long term chairman, Lim Kit Siang in 2004. He was elected the Member of Parliament for Bukit Gelugor, Penang in the Malaysian general election, 2004. He is a prominent lawyer in Malaysia, well known for his expertise in the field of litigation.
He has previously spent time in Jail under the Malaysian ISA.
| Year | Parliamentary seat | Votes | Majority | Total voters | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | P49 Jelutong | - | won | - | - |
| 1999 | P49 Jelutong | 20716 | lost by 775 | 59372 | Lee Kah Choon (BN - Gerakan) |
| 2004 | P51 Bukit Gelugor (new seat) | 22529 | won by 1261 | 60123 | Lim Boo Chan (BN - MCA) |
On the 7 September 2004, Karpal Singh given the choice of apologizing within 3 days and face 10 days of suspension or suspension from parliament with all privileges such as allowances stripped from him, for a period of 6 months. Karpal had earlier told returning MP's that they had to raise their right hand when speaking the oath of office. Parliament determined that there was no such requirement and subsequently, that Karpal was deliberately misleading parliament. All 12 DAP members of parliament walked out in protest.