There is simmering discontent over the Perak Sultan Azlan Shah bestowing a datukship during his birthday celebrations on former Jelapang DAP state assemblyperson Hee Yit Foong, a much disliked figure in the state.

While many backed out of the street poll on the topic conducted yesterday by Malaysiakini because royalty was involved, others were willing to air their views on condition that their photographs not be taken except for one.

hee yit foong interview 010209 02 Out of the 25 residents canvassed, only eight - a female and seven males - gave their comments with the common stand being Hee ( left ) was rewarded by the BN for helping to unhorse the Pakatan state government.

While many agree that such awards are the prerogative of the Sultan, they drew the line when it came to the former DAP assemblyperson who they viewed as having betrayed the trust of her voters by jumping ship.

The very mention of Hee's name sparked anger among those surveyed, a few going to the extent of threatening to ‘finish her off' if they ever saw her in person.

The Chinese community appears to taken her as their poster girl for hatred for her role in aiding and abetting the BN in regaining control of the state government.

 Bitter fruits of betrayal

The potential emotional whiplash from the angry and frustrated voters seems to have turned Hee into a lame duck in servicing her constituents.

Many residents say that they have yet to see her in person after she had turned her back on the DAP and a few who saw her occasionally in Jelapang, said that she was surrounded by bodyguards.

According to them, her service centre in Jelapang has been closed with the premises returned to the landlord.

Former lorry driver and MIC supporter M Kumarasamy, 67, said that people voted in the opposition but were played out when Hee became a turncoat.

"However opposition parties cannot be trusted in administrating the state when compared to BN which has a track record," he said.

He said there is no point in a politician having a datukship when she cannot even service her constituents effectively.

"What is the use of getting a royal title when there is no respect for her from the voters," he added.

He said that it is easy to get titles if you have the right connections in the state administration.

NONE P Saravanan, 42, ( left ) a sales representative said: "Those who don't deserve to get royal titles... get them as seen in Hee's case, she did not do anything for her voters-she just warmed the seat and enjoyed an assemblyperson's benefits."

Housewife Zahira Ulfa, 22, said, "No point in her getting the title as DAP had fielded her to serve the people. But she did not work for the community. We have lost confidence in her."

A 62-year-old businessman who only wanted to be known as Yip said angrily: "The Pakatan state government was toppled because she crossed over to BN and she got her award by political means and not because of service to the people."

"I never saw her in person after her crossover and only read about her in the newspapers. She is not fit to receive the datukship."

Whereabouts 'unknown '

Another businessman aged 50, who refused to be named, said that the constituents no longer knew of her whereabouts as since switching camps she had stopped attending to her service centre.

"She has lost touch with the voters and she got her datuk title through political means from the state BN government - this is unfair to the people."

Pensioner Zainal Mohd Khalid, 58, said: "She is not entitled to the state award and the public is not happy she received the award. This is dirty politics."

Former restaurant owner Adam Ali, 52, said: "The award involves money politics as she did not do anything for the public to be awarded the datukship."

A retired Telekoms employee who just wanted to known as Edward, 57, also echoed the same sentiments, saying that the people voted for the party and not for her.