KOTA KINABALU – DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke’s actions in reprimanding the party’s two leaders in Sabah for receiving “Datuk” is inappropriate and does not show respect for the highest recognition in the state, said a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah leader.
Datuk Najib Tay Abdullah, a member of Gagasan Rakyat, said the action to be taken against Datuk Chan Foong Hin (Kota Kinabalu MP) and Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe (Luyang assemblyman) reflects DAP’s bias attitude and belittles the sovereignty of the state constitution.
Both Chan and Phoong were conferred with the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu, which carries the title “Datuk” in conjunction with Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin’s birthday celebration yesterday.
Loke vowed to take action against the two Sabah DAP leaders as the party formalised the no state award policy in 2018, where four members were conferred the same honorifics the same year.
The policy only applies to DAP leaders who are still in active politics.
Double standards?
Out of the four, former Tg Kapor assemblyman Datuk Jimmy Wong, a former Sabah DAP leader, the late Datuk Stephen Wong (former Sandakan MP) and Datuk Frankie Phoon (Tg Papat assemblyman) received their “Datukship” from the state.
“Do not delight in bullying leaders in Sabah, because this is recognition for PH leaders in the state, their constituencies and DAP in general.
“Why is there a question of double standards?
“If there is a high-ranking leader from elsewhere, he pretends not to know, but when a leader from Sabah receives it, suddenly he wants to speak up and take disciplinary action.
“For me personally, openly questioning the credibility of awarding these titles touches upon the sovereignty of the state of Sabah and its head of state, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin,” he said.
“DAP is part of the ruling parties in Sabah and is also a partner to the ruling Gagasan Rakyat in Sabah.
“This issue has attracted widespread attention in the political arena, both nationally and in Sabah, and has sparked discussions about the role and actions of DAP in Sabah.
“At this critical moment, political leaders will face challenging decisions related to the future of politics and autonomy in Sabah,” he said.
Both Phoong and Chan, who also hold ministerial posts, have remained silent over the matter.
Chan, when met by reporters before accepting the award, said he had to accept the award out of respect to the Sabah governor, adding that he is also prepared to face whatever action the party decides to issue against him.
“I received a phone call from the Istana on Thursday (October 5), who asked me to attend the rehearsal on Friday (October 6).
“I felt it was not easy or right to refuse it, as I am a Sabahan. This offer is from the governor and state government, so I receive it in good faith,” he had said.
Chan is deputy agriculture minister while Phoong is Sabah’s industrial development minister.
Worry not about ‘Malaya masters’
Meanwhile, Sabah nominated assemblyman Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee expressed amusement at Chan and Phoong’s apparent helplessness in refusing the state awards, as though the awards were forced upon them at the last minute.
“My advice to Sabah DAP leaders is to gratefully accept the awards without having to bother what their Malaya masters think.
“After all, the prime minister has already expressed his sincere thanks to Chan, Phoong and 10 other PH YBs for withdrawing the court case against the federal government on the 40% net revenue entitlement of Sabah,” said Yong, here today.
Yong said if they were truly unable to accept the awards for whatever reason, then all they needed to do was to courteously explain to the chief minister and Sabah governor that they do not mean to be disrespectful to the head of state or ungrateful to the chief minister.
“I speak from personal experience. The day before the TYT’s birthday (on September 16, 2000), I informed the then chief minister (Tan Sri Osu Sukam) and then the TYT (Tun Sakaran Dandai) that I declined the conferment of (the award) for reasons that I made known to the chief minister and TYT.
“Hence, my name was removed from the list to be gazetted although the Istana program book for the rehearsal had already been printed.” – The Vibes, October 8, 2023
