If Tun Ghafar Baba himself didn’t want to accept (the award), why should our leaders accept it?”
Accepting awards gives people wrong impression; DAP CEC to discuss matter, says sec-gen
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has chided several party leaders for accepting Datukship from state rulers, saying it does not reflect the party’s principles.
Lim said accepting accolades would give people the wrong impression as only several months had passed since DAP became part of the government.
He said DAP’s central executive committee (CEC) would hold a meeting soon to discuss the matter as the explanations given by the award recipients were “unacceptable”.
“Yes, we respect and thank those who want to confer the awards, but in Melaka, the late Tun Ghafar Baba was okay with being called Mr Ghafar Baba.
“If Tun Ghafar Baba himself didn’t want to accept (the award), why should our leaders accept it?” he said when officiating Perak DAP’s annual convention, which was attended by 1,303 delegates, here, yesterday.
Present were DAP vice-chairman M. Kulasegaran and Perak DAP chairman Nga Kor Ming.
“Melaka Chief Minister (Adly Zahari) from Parti Amanah Negara also did not accept (the award),” Lim said.
He said DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and late DAP veteran Karpal Singh had refused such honours as they wanted only to serve the people.
Lim did not mention names, but he is believed to be referring to Pakatan Harapan elected representatives, including DAP lawmakers, who were conferred awards by state rulers recently.
Bandar Hilir assemblyman Tey Kok Kiew and Bemban assemblyman Wong Fort Pin received the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka, which carries the title “Datuk”.
They received the awards in conjunction with Yang di-Pertua Negeri Melaka Tun Dr Mohd Khalil Yaakob’s 80th birthday celebration on Saturday.
Last week, Sabah DAP leaders Stephen Wong and Frankie Poon were conferred the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu, which also carries the title “Datuk”.
Lim said DAP elected representatives should be proud of the title “Yang Berhormat” as their focus should be on serving the people.
“It’s not too late to receive such awards later (in life) because we must focus on what’s important — serving the people and saving the economy,” said Lim, who is finance minister. I don’t want my words to be seen as disrespectful to any state government, but why should we receive awards during our first year (in office)? We must perform well first.”
In 2012, Karpal criticised DAP leaders Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and Datuk Teng Chang Khim for accepting Datukship. Ngeh, who is former Perak DAP chairman, was conferred the title in 2008, while Teng, who is former Selangor assembly speaker, accepted a Datukship in 2010.