THE absence of titles among senior DAP leaders does not signify a rejection of the Malay Rulers, Pakatan Harapan (PH) Melaka chairman Adly Zahari said, dismissing Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan's allegation as an attempt to undermine the coalition.
Adly said Ahmad's claim that DAP leaders were reluctant to accept titles because they did not recognise the royal institution was unfounded, pointing out that several party leaders had received honours, including during PH's administration in Melaka.
He cited veteran DAP leader Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang as among those who had been conferred a title.
“Actually, that statement is slander. If we look at the time when the PH government was in power, there were DAP leaders holding positions who received titles and honours, including in Melaka.
“Secondly, if we look at DAP's top leadership, Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang also received a title,” he told a press conference here today.
Ahmad had questioned why senior DAP leaders, including Anthony Loke, Nga Kor Ming and Teresa Kok, did not hold titles such as Datuk, claiming this reflected their unwillingness to recognise the position of the Malay Rulers.
He also linked the issue to ideological differences between Umno and DAP, particularly over the concept of a secular state and Islam's position under the Federal Constitution.
Adly, however, said the absence of titles should not be used to judge a political leader's position on the royal institution.
He pointed to former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who also does not hold a title, as an example.
“If we look at Umno leaders themselves, there are those without titles, such as KJ.
“In Melaka, one of the figures once admired was Tun Ghafar Baba. He received his title posthumously.
“That is why I conclude that the statement is slander intended to discredit PH,” he said. - November 12, 2026
