(April 16): On April 17, 2014, Malaysians mourned the sudden death of one of the country’s most popular politicians, Karpal Singh.

For his family, his sudden departure marked the beginning of an emotionally tumultuous year to come, one that would be defined by big changes in all of their personal and professional lives.

Barely a month after his death, Karpal’s third son, Ramkarpal, stepped into the footsteps of his father after winning the parliamentary seat of Bukit Gelugor in Penang.

“It wasn’t something we expected to happen this way,” Ram says of his start in Malaysian politics.

“It had always been in the back of my mind to enter the political arena, but there was no urgency.

“The circumstances surrounding it all were... well, there just aren’t any words to describe it,” said the 39-year-old lawyer.

Apart from being thrust into the political spotlight, Ram also juggled taking over his father’s legal firm.

“When you’re left in the deep end, you somehow have to learn to swim, and that’s what the past year has been about. Learning to swim.”

To commemorate the first anniversary of Karpal's death on Friday, Ram talks to The Malaysian Insider about his early months as a Member of Parliament, and what he feels about inevitably having to fill the shoes of the man known as the “Tiger of Jelutong”.

The Malaysian Insider: What were some of your biggest fears, running for the Bukit Gelugor seat at that time?

Ramkarpal: To be honest, I can’t say that I had any fears. I wondered if I would be up to the mark, of course, and that was a natural concern. You realise he had very big shoes. There’s no way I will fill up those shoes, not now, maybe never.

Of course, there are a lot of things which I naturally follow in his footsteps. We used to work together. The work he did, I did. So it’s not like doing something completely new.  A lot of things that he used to do and the principles he used to hold on to, somehow these have been instilled in me.

We’re not identical, we have our differences, but in the bigger picture, we have a lot in common.

TMI: Being known as Karpal Singh’s son must come with some benefits and also drawbacks. Can you share some of the pros and cons of this association?

Ramkarpal: Honestly, the pros outweigh the cons of being known as Karpal Singh’s son. One very special advantage was the knowledge that he gave me over the years. You won’t get that elsewhere. Being his son, I was fortunate to be privy to that knowledge, in terms of learning directly from him. How he handled his cases, the way he researched, all those little things that make a big difference.

People’s perception of him has, to be honest, given me a slight advantage, and it also keeps my siblings and me on our toes.

In the courtroom, people do expect that much from you because you’re his son. There are certain standards we have to live up to. That’s certainly motivated us to a very large extent.

On the other side, though, I had to deal with a lot of accusations of nepotism when I took over the constituency. In court, there are even accusations of favouritism.

TMI: How did you address the nepotism accusation?

Ramkarpal: It was a big issue in my campaign, of course, and I can’t deny the fact that I have two other brothers in politics. This isn’t something I can deny. But I honestly felt I had something to offer, and I still do. I feel that with hard work, which I am willing to put in, I have a lot to offer them.

I asked them to look beyond the fact that I was Karpal’s son, and to give me a chance to prove myself. If they find me a useless bum after one term, then kick me out!

TMI: Do you ever feel pressured by the inevitable comparisons that people make between you and your father?

Ramkarpal: I have my own style. He wasn’t the type who wanted you to blindly follow him. He wouldn’t want me to do exactly what he did without using my own mind. I think he would have been very disappointed. He would have wanted to see me with my own agenda, my own ideas. Of course, I adopt the principles he so strongly lived by.

He had his shoes, but I have my own. That’s one thing he taught me, to have my own mind.

I don’t feel compelled or pressured to live up to any sort of image of him. I don’t think he would have expected that from me anyway.

TMI: When you meet your constituents, do the comparisons with your late father crop up?

Ramkarpal: One thing good about my constituency is that they are educated, and a lot of them understood my situation. So far they’ve been giving me the space to breathe.

I go down to meet them every weekend, I do a walkabout, go to the local markets to speak to them. They do want me to raise issues and do things for them, which I’ve been trying to, but it’s not a situation where they want me to be a replica of him, and for that I am very thankful.

TMI: What was it like for you during your first session of Parliament?

Ramkarpal: The first session, to be honest, I was still in a daze. Things were very difficult for me at that time. The first few months after his death was a completely life-changing period.

TMI: How do you find it now?

Ramkarpal: I’m beginning to get quite used to it in Parliament now, after four sessions. Now, I’m starting to contribute.

Especially the last session, there were so many controversial issues that came up. I quite enjoyed it. I found it challenging and I really liked it. It’s what I like to do, debating, arguing.

I suppose it comes from my work as a lawyer. I found it as a good extension of my legal profession. God-willing, the next few sessions will get even better.

TMI: Do you see yourself devoting the rest of your life to politics, much like your father?

Ramkarpal: It’s hard to say, but there’s certainly a potential for that. If I can dedicate my life to law, why can’t I dedicate my life to this? Politics will always be a part of my life. So, yes, I hope so. Of course, if I’m given a chance to by the voters.. - The Malaysian Insider

In Part 2 of the interview tomorrow, Ramkarpal shares his vision for Malaysia, and how life has been for his family this past year without Karpal Singh.