KAMPAR (The Star/Asia News Network) - Malaysian member of Parliament for Bukit Gelugor and veteran Democratic Action Party (DAP) leader Karpal Singh, 73, died in an accident on the North-South Highway near Gua Tempurung, Perak, early on Thursday morning.

The prominent lawyer and his assistant C. Michael died on the scene. Mr Karpal's son Ramkarpal and the car's driver C. Selvam were injured in the incident, which took place at 1am. According to Malaysian Insider, an Indonesian maid who was also in the car was severly injured.

The victims' bodies have been brought to Kampar Hospital.

The Toyota Alphard in which Mr Karpal and the three were in had collided with a lorry. Mr Karpal was on his way to Penang to attend a court case.

His son Gobind Singh Deo, when contacted, confirmed that Mr Karpal had died on the spot in the accident.

"His assistant Michael (Selvam) was also killed in the accident, while the driver is critically injured.

"My brother Ram is slightly injured but we are trying to get through to him," he said when contacted at 3.30am.

Mr Gobind, who is Puchong MP, added that he was in Kuala Lumpur at the time of the incident, and will be heading to the accident site.