LGE rebukes DAP members for receiving 'datukships'
Sunday, 14 Oct 20185:04 PM MYT
by blake chen
PETALING JAYA: DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has rebuked several party leaders for accepting 'Datukships' from state rulers, saying it does not reflect the party's principles.
He said that accepting the titles within a year of being elected as the government does not truly reflect the party's struggles, but instead it gives the people a different perception.
"I do not mean to disrespect any of the state governments, but why accept the titles in the first year of ruling? We should show that we have served the people first," Lim said at the DAP Perak Convention on Sunday (Oct 14).
He said DAP's central executive committee (CEC) will hold a meeting soon to discuss the matter, and suggested that DAP leaders emulate the late Ghafar Baba, who only accepted the “Tunship” after retiring.
Ghafar was the deputy prime minister from 1986 to 1993, serving under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad when the latter was Prime Minister at the time.
Lim also maintained that the former Umno veteran preferred to be addressed as “Encik” even after he was made a “Tun”.
"Yes, we want to be respectful and thankful to those who want to give out titles but in Melaka, Tun Ghafar Baba preferred to be called Encik Ghafar Baba. If Tun Ghafar Baba himself does not accept it, why should our leaders?”
"The explanations given (by the award recipients) are not acceptable, and we will hold a CEC meeting to discuss the matter," said Lim.
On Saturday (Oct 13), two DAP Melaka State Assemblymen, Tey Kok Kiew and Wong Fort Pin received the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM) title, which carries the 'Datuk' title along with it.
Sabah DAP Ministers Stephen Wong and Frankie Poon were awarded the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) last week, which also carried the 'Datukship' title
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/10/14/lge-rebukes-dap-members-for-receiving-datukships/#P5oYYlWvcg3gVYSK.99
