DAP reprimands Sabah reps who accepted datukship
The DAP central executive committee (CEC) has issued a strong reprimand to two DAP elected representatives from Sabah who were conferred and accepted a datukship each.
The duo are Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin, who is also deputy agriculture and food security minister, and Luyang assemblyperson Phoong Jin Zhe, who is the Sabah industrial development...
The DAP central executive committee (CEC) has issued a strong reprimand to two DAP elected representatives from Sabah who were conferred and accepted a datukship each.
The duo are Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin, who is also deputy agriculture and food security minister, and Luyang assemblyperson Phoong Jin Zhe, who is the Sabah industrial development and entrepreneurship minister.
"The CEC determined that the actions of the two elected representatives were in violation of the party's policy, which prohibits accepting any titles while serving as elected representatives.
"Therefore, the CEC strongly reprimanded Chan (left, above) and Phoong for violating the party's policy," its secretary-general Anthony Loke said in a brief statement.
He said that the CEC reiterated its position that all elected representatives should focus on serving the people and should only be considered for any awards after retiring from elected office.
"DAP expressed our gratitude to the rulers and Yang di-Pertua Negeri for all award conferments and will continue to honour our royal institution through service to the country and people," he added.
On Sunday, Loke, who is transport minister, said the party has often been labelled anti-monarchy due to DAP’s policy of not accepting titles bestowed by the royal institution, but DAP has never rejected such honours when its leaders retiring from politics are conferred such titles.
"We’ve always been bad-mouthed over this matter. We have never been against royalty, but our policy of not accepting titles has been misinterpreted as anti-monarchy. Let me clarify the matter, it is not true,” he told reporters.
Party veteran Lim Kit Siang was awarded the Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) award during an investiture ceremony at the Istana Negara on June 5 in conjunction with the official birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
He only accepted the award, which carries the 'Tan Sri' title after ending his parliamentary career in 2022, 53 years after his first election as MP in 1969.
Aside from DAP leaders, other politicians such as the late deputy prime minister Ghafar Baba also waited until retiring from politics before accepting titles.
