Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng rues that he can seem to do no right in handling the Kelantan government’s appeal for federal government loans.

In a speech today, Lim pointed out that it was PAS lawmakers who first challenged him to show proof that the state had asked for federal assistance to pay its own civil servants – but had party president Abdul Hadi Awang label his morals "not good" when he did so.

“Those were facts, but when I said it, they said what I said was wrong and challenged me to show proof. They challenged me to show proof so I showed proof. If I don’t, I’m wrong; but after showing proof, that was wrong too…

“Yesterday, the PAS president – a pious person – said that I’m immoral. It’s as though I’ve sinned by speaking the truth,” he told delegates while officiating at the Federal Territory DAP state ordinary convention today.

Lim said he would continue to approve loans to pay Kelantan civil servants, even if condemned for doing so, as they should not go unpaid.

The finance minister added, however, that delegates could expect to see more arguments based on sentiment and slander rather than facts and figures, particularly “dangerous” ones that play on race and religion.

He said this is because opposition parties are not able to articulate economic issues, and so turn to issues of race and religion instead.

Disciplinary action

Lim also said that the people still prioritised economic issues, and so DAP should work to ensure that Malaysians can hope for a bright economic future.

“That is the issue that differentiates, that determines, that becomes the key performance indicator, of whether the Harapan government succeeds in the 15th general election five years from now,” he said.

'Don't forget your roots'

On another matter, Lim, the DAP secretary-general, warned that disciplinary action would be taken against party members who “forget their roots” by receiving state awards and titles.

The acceptance of such awards goes against DAP policy, which states that these can only be received after retirement from active politics – except in special circumstances on the approval of the party's central executive committee.

Lim pointed out that DAP veterans have worked hard without expecting any reward to enable the party to succeed, and he himself had been chief minister for 10 years without any state awards.

“We have to remember the contributions and sacrifice of the members who came before us. They hoped for nothing in return, did not get any positions or gifts. They just wanted to see DAP succeed and the country become a little fairer.

“We have to remember these members. That’s why I want to say today that for those who have succeeded and got salaries as ministers and exco members – if they forget these members’ sacrifices, don’t say I didn’t give warnings.

"I will order disciplinary action against them,” he said, to rapturous applause from delegates.

As Lim pointed out, DAP has seen a spike in membership after the May 9 polls, and leaders accepting titles would give new recruits the wrong impression that the party is merely a platform for them to accrue power. 

One of the items on the agenda of today's convention was whether to support the CEC decision on elected representatives and local councillors not receiving state awards.

DAP is the only Pakatan Harapan party with a policy of not accepting awards until after retirement, but three of its members – Malacca exco member Tey Kok Kiew, Bemban assemblyperson Wong Fort Pin, and Sandakan MP Stephen Wong – recently violated this rule.

Fort Pin and Stephen had since apologised, but not Tey – who instead told the party to inform state rulers of the ruling, prompting a "final warning" from DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke not to escalate the issue.