TAIPING, Perak (Oct 14): DAP will call for a Central Executive Council (CEC) meeting this week to discuss the receiving of Datukship award by some of its members.

Its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the action by the DAP members concerned in accepting the accolades did not reflect the true spirit of the party struggle, but gave a wrong impression to the people being that it was hardly a year since their party became part of the ruling government.

“I don’t want my words to be seen as being disrespectful, but why should our leaders accept (the award) during our first year, proof our performance in serving the people first.

“... If this upsets certain quarters, I apologise because i feel this is very important as DAP does not go after position,” he said in his speech at the Perak DAP Convention, which was attended by 1,303 delegates, at a hotel here today.

Also present were DAP vice-chairman M. Kula Segaran and Perak DAP chairman Nga Kor Ming. 

Lim did not mention names of the party members concerned, but he is believed to be referring to Bandar Hilir Assemblyman Tey Kok Kiew and Bemban Assemblyman  Wong Fort Pin, who were conferred the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM), which carries the title “Datuk”, in conjunction with the 80th birthday celebration of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka, Tun Dr Mohd Khalil Yaakob, yesterday.

 Last week, two Sabah DAP ministers, namely Stephen Wong and Frankie Poon, were awarded the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK), which also comes with the title “Datuk”, in conjunction with the 65th birthday celebration of the Yang Dipertua Negeri of  Sabah Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.

Lim said it was not appropriate for DAP members to accept the awards as party adviser Lim Kit Siang and veteran member, the late Karpal Singh, had refused such honours and and were more comfortable being referred to as “Yang Berhormat”.

“Yes, we respect and thank those who want to give us the titles, but like in Melaka, (now deceased) Tun Ghafar Baba was happy being called Encik (Mr) Ghafar Baba. If Tun Ghafar Baba himself did not want to accept (the award), why should our leaders accept them.

“Melaka Chief Minister  (Adly Zahari) from Parti Amanah Negara (Adly Zahari)  also did not accept (the award), “ he said, adding that the CEC would discuss the matter as the explanations given by the award recipients were "unacceptable".

Meanwhile, Lim congratuled PKR president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for winning the Port Dickson parliamentary by-election with a majority of 23,560 votes.

“This win is bigger than what was achieved in the 14th general election, indirectly showing the people’s unwavering support for Pakatan Harapan,” he said.

Anwar won in yesterday’s Port Dickson by-election by securing more majority votes than PKR candidate in the last general election, Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, with only 17,710 vote-majority.

The Port Dickson by-election was called after ​​​​​​​Danyal Balagopal, 68, vacated the seat last Sept 12 to allow Anwar to contest and return to parliament.