August 28, 2012
Lim Guan Eng: We work for the People, not for Titles
by Nigel Aw@http://www.malaysiakini.com
DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng stressed today DAP is not in politics to pursue
datukship, but declined to tread into politically-sensitive waters on whether the party will change its unwritten rule of not accepting such titles.
“This is a dangerous question. If I answer we will accept, it will appear as if we are in for titles; if I say will not accept, we will appear as if we are disrespectful to the royalty,” Lim told a press conference at the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
He was responding to Sekinchan state assemblyperson Ng Suee Lim’s suggestion that party leaders accept such titles from the Malay rulers to prevent the party from being labelled as anti-Malay and anti-royalty.
Lim said the matter did not arise as no title was being offered to DAP representatives at present. “I don’t think there is any issue about us not respecting the royalty. The Sultans will need to award them first, so the matter does not arise,” he said.
Lim added that the party’s main purpose would still remain serving the rakyat, rather than for titles. “I am comfortable being called saudara (mister). Even after I retire, I will be comfortable with it,” said Lim, who is also Penang Chief Minister.
The issue of state titles arose in late 2010 after speculation that DAP’s Sungai Pinang state assemblyperson Teng Chang Khim was about to be granted a datukship. However, the party did not oppose Teng’s acceptance of the title after it was revealed that the award came directly from the recommendation of the Selangor palace for his role as Selangor state legislative assembly speaker.
‘Tokong matter has passed’
Lim also declined to comment on being called a tokong (deity) by Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman, stating that the matter had passed. He said DAP-PKR negotiations on seat allocation in Penang were not a “big issue”, but declined to speak further on this.
Mansor had allegedly uttered the word tokong in reference to Lim during an informal PKR meeting which, among others, discussed the seat allocation in Penang for the next general election.
On another matter, Lim said it was yet to be seen whether MCA’s relentless attack on DAP and PAS over hudud would have any impact on the electorate. “Let’s wait and see when the general election comes,” he said.
Among the top leadership of PAS and DAP, Lim added, it was still business as usual despite the hudud controversy.
It is a yes and no answer, but we should respect DAP decision if that is the views of the majority. At least, DAP is able to come together to agree on something they believe. Let us not fall into BN spin to divide the party.
DAP should encourage members to accept the title if the member nominated has contributing genuinely. Malaysians are not blind and always respect those deserving title holders like Tan Sri P. Ramlee, Dato Din, Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, Datuk Michelle Yeoh, Datuk Lee Chong Wei etc, etc. These are Malaysians who have contributed to the progress of our nation. They don’t lobby for it. DAP should not be overly worried of gossips and abuses should the nominated member is deserving. Anyway, these titles are not made by DAP. It is part of Malaysian tradition to honour Malaysian contributions and sacrifices to the nation. Lastly, these titles must never be awarded based on entitlement.
Malaysia is about the only country in the world with people to whom titles matter. This love affair with tiles must end. There will come a time when someone flippin’ burgers for a living carries the title ‘Dato’. I believe there are already some driving taxis who used to own them.
“Mansor had allegedly uttered the word tokong in reference to Lim during an informal PKR meeting which, among others, discussed the seat allocation in Penang for the next general election.”
Over here he would be made to resign all his posts. You cannot have that kind of behavior. The fact that he has not been asked to reliquish all his posts shows that there is no real intention of making any radical departure from the politics of race and religion that has set this country on the wrong pathway. It is difficult with politicians who have been raised on values deeply rooted in race holding leadership positions.
Their natural demise may pave the way – or may not. We will have to wait and see until the torch is passed to the next generation and the next. By which time Malaysia as we know it may not exist anymore. It may be a homogeneous nation like Japan.
When stopped by a policeman for forgetting to strap on the safety belt around the neighborhood streets, I always politely say to him ” maaf datuk ” and gets away with it !! Poor parents, given names are useless in bolehland, semua orang datuk lah !!
It’s good not to accept titles whilst one is still a MP or an assemblyman. Just a matter of good practice. So i hope PKR can adopt such good practices.
Weng,
Fat hope on some pkr members. Pkr loves to lay their hand on all cookies. They don’t mind Kanna choked. Yes, they are no cookie monsters from sesame street.
Vic,
I rather not having dap member accepting titles. So important meh. If so, my mum would have gotten her latukship. Instead she threw her mca membership into waste paper basket. Malaysia should follow Singapore style. No title. Not even lee kuan yew himself.
Bean,
Judging from your standard, mostly probably the entire pkr must be disbanded & those real good ones shall enter dap. Not tian Chua.
Uk now is having the same old problems as Malaysia. Frankly I can’t imagine Elton John get his knighthoodship. For what! If Kenneth Williams got knighthood, still acceptable or Nigel Hawthorne, another well known gay. But Elton John. Ptui
What about those anonymous SMS that offers RM200,000 for a Datoship from an east coast state not that far from KL and RM300,000 for upgrade to Dato Seri?
I know for a fact my ex-boss also paid for his Datoship and now he is in deep cesspool being investigated for embezzlement of RM111 million of a public-listed confectionery firm… if they take the Datoship back from him, he might try and ask for refund, no? With a bit of discount lah of course, since he has enjoyed the privileges for 15 years already…. LOL!
The ‘tokong’ issue is actually a non starter,even before Datuk Mansor’s now infamous tokong comment, many people in Penang has been referring to LGE as ‘kuan yim’, or Goddess of Mercy in buddhism, taken to mean someone who brings goodness to all beings.
I believe the controversy should now be laid to rest, there are more important issue to resolve.
Looes74,
I respect your views and I have to agree with you. Well, titles may not be important to me and you but in Malaysia many would says this is “our” culture or tradition whatever word is appropriate, no doubt we actually adopted this from the British. No harm having title like those in conferred by the Queen of England. Most importantly the selection must be stringent. The nominees are deserving. In British, only the queen give out the award. I am sure there must be a body evaluating the nominees while in Malaysia we have 13 states giving out the titles and yearly. Ours have become so cheap while the British remains an honourable one. Ours can be bought and abuses while you hardly notice any abuses by the British.
Lastly, the title itself is not to be faulted it is the givers and receivers that is to be blamed.
the problem with titles could be solved easily if we have a proper government whose main aim is the betterment of the society and the country as a whole. the titles are given out by the monarchs to persons out of their own choice and also those recommended by the government or civil society. for the government and civil society this is a lucrative business, you can’t stop them because they’ll accuse you of being illoyal to the monarchy.
so why not set up sterner code of conduct for title holders and make them answerable to a panel who could eventually strip them of their titles by default.
singapore doesn’t give out titles because they don’t have a monarchy.
Got to give respect where respect is due. If we have more like him, the nation would be a damned side better place.