KUALA LUMPUR – The DAP leadership has “strongly reprimanded” two of its Sabah leaders for accepting datukships in violation of the party’s policy.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the party’s central executive committee (CEC) discussed the matter at a meeting yesterday, and agreed that Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin and Sabah DAP secretary Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe had broken the party’s stance on accepting titles.
“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 and Choong for violating the party’s policy,” Loke said in a statement today.
Earlier this month, Chan and Phoong received the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) awards in conjunction with Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin’s birthday celebration.
Chan is Kota Kinabalu MP while Phoong is Luyang assemblyman.
Loke said DAP’s stance is that all its elected representatives should focus on public service and only accept awards and titles after retiring from elected office.
He said the party, while expressing gratitude to the rulers and Yang DiPertua Negeri for conferring awards, will “honour” the royal institution through the service of elected representatives to the public. – October 26, 2023