YOURSAY | ‘Give awards only after a lifetime of dedicated service to the rakyat and nation.’

Umno man claims DAP's move on awards shows its true 'anti-royal' colours

P Dev Anand Pillai: Nobody is disrespecting the monarchy, it is part and parcel of our constitutional institutions. It is the issue of the titles which are being awarded - it has become so cheap and numerous.

So, it is right for the DAP to restrict the acceptance of these titles until the said recipient has served his or her term and retires from active politics. Learn from the party stalwarts.

For the members of the Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu (Umno) anything and everything is being made an issue. Their aim is to cripple this administration and return to power by hook or crook.

Wira: Sekinchan assemblyperson Ng Suee Lim, refusing an award recommended by a committee which the Pakatan Harapan government sits, of which DAP is a component party, is honourable.

Unless it is upon the personal recommendation of his royal highness, you should not confer those awards upon yourself.

Have you seen any BN government conferring an award to an active member of the opposition? That tells you loads about those awards and the people recommending them.

Former Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Mohd Razlan Rafii, this issue had nothing to do with the royalty. There is no royal house in Malacca or Sabah.

If the awards are from their highnesses, the affected leaders should always refer to the party leadership for guidance.

Umno leaders unashamedly recommend their own names for awards in states where they rule. It's common knowledge.

RR: This is an idiotic statement by Razlan. There is no insult to monarchy as the roles of sultans are well entrenched in our Constitution which all Malaysians respect.

It is a good principle that a political party vets its leaders getting state awards as only those who really deserve should get them.

Unlike in the BN era, where people of all sorts get awards just for fame and business connections, some of whom are young fellows, with some alleged rogues and thieves among them.

Therefore, such a DAP principle should be applauded and Harapan as a whole should adopt it – give awards only after a lifetime of dedicated service to the rakyat and nation.

The Wakandan: Party organising secretary Anthony Loke said, "DAP leaders are in politics to serve the people and not seek fame or titles or positions.”

Perhaps that is the difference between DAP and Umno. The latter by contrast, seek fame or titles or positions.

Actually, Razlan was wrong in saying that DAP is against receiving state honours. No, they can receive them but they have to be vetted by the DAP central executive committee (CEC) first.

So Razlan’s claim was moot and it only showed how recklessly he had jumped into conclusion without rational and intellectual thinking.

RZee: Umno is devoid of ideas and whatever the Harapan government says or does, it will be bought back to race, religion and royalty because Umno got nothing else to say.

The rakyat have long felt that the award of titles to some young upstarts and to people who have done nothing for the country is a joke.

In fact, the titles to the likes of the Najibs, the Zahids and the Azeezes, to name a few, should be stripped.

So when DAP displays some integrity, Umno can’t stand this because they have none and don’t understand such a word.

Annonymous: Our former leaders under then prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, the flamboyant education minister Khir Johari and the humble and simple deputy prime minister Ghafar Baba, refused to accept any award/title while in office.

Is that proof that these leaders are against the Malay rulers?

David Dass: DAP is correct. These politicians have hardly been in government for five months. They have done nothing to earn the titles bestowed on them. The objection is a good one.

Keep their feet on the ground. Do not let power and position get into their heads. Otherwise, they will very quickly become like the people we replaced.

The royalty must understand. Titles must be given sparingly to retain their value. Only people who have done great service to the nation deserve them.

Fair and Square: Indeed, for politicians, recognition should be after they retire from politics.

And upon receiving the award they should be apolitical. They should aspire for higher contributions to country and king without the interference of politics.

AnotherKomentar: This debacle, which could and should have been avoided, illustrates the indiscipline among some DAP’s elected members.

Surely many more capable leaders would have turned down the awards as a matter of principle, not as a disrespect as some have suggested.

DAP’s rapid growth and expansion have not been matched by the quality of some of its members.

Royal Salute 21Y: Reporters asked the Old Maverick why isn't the Agong conferring titles during His Majesty's birthday this year, his answer was "we couldn't find any deserving people to give titles to".

That sums it up – having served the people for only five months and you want to be conferred a title?

DAP's stance is noble, accept such titles only after you have stepped down.

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