All elected representatives from DAP will from now on be required to refer any offers of titles to the party's central executive committee (CEC) before a decision is made to accept them or otherwise. 

DAP assistant national treasurer Ngeh Koo Ham told Malaysiakini that the ruling was agreed upon at the CEC meeting last night.

“Yesterday, the party formally (made) a decision.

“This guideline (states that) if special circumstances arise, when whoever is offered a title, they should refer it back to the CEC for a decision.

“[...] The guideline is limited to those serving as an MP, state assemblyperson and local councillors,” he said when met in Kuala Lumpur today.

He cited his own Datukship as an example of how to proceed.

“For example, when I got my Datukship in 2008, I referred it to CEC (first). I did not accept it on my own,” he said. 

This guideline provides an exception to a general policy within the party that states members can only accept titles after they have completed their tenure of public service.

However, Ngeh said that those who had recently accepted their awards would be allowed to keep them because there had not been an official rule on this issue until now.

“They can proceed and get the award.

“There was no official strict circular on this. It was only in practice,” he said.

Last night’s meeting was in light of a slew of DAP politicians recently being conferred awards, including its Malacca chairperson Tey Kok Kiew, Malacca state legislative assembly speaker Wong Fort Pin (photo), Sabah chairperson Stephen Wong, Sabah vice-chairperson Frankie Poon and Sri Tanjung assemblyperson Jimmy Wong.

We respect the royalty

Ngeh, who is the Perak state legislative assembly speaker, insisted that this guideline was not a sign of disrespect against the monarchy.

“There is no intention for us to offend the royalty as they are one of our institutions. We will respect them.

“[...] We feel that we should be given awards only upon service being rendered. Again we appreciate those who give us awards.

“Let us serve first before awards are given,” he stressed.