'I misspoke': Sabah DAP man U-turns on sending letter declining datukship

Sabah DAP leader Tan Lee Fatt has made an about turn and retracted his statement that he had sent a letter to Chief Minister Hajiji Noor declining a state award.

The state assistant finance minister said that he misspoke.

“I misspoke yesterday. I did not submit a letter to the chief minister,” Tan (above) was reported as saying today by the Borneo Post.

The situation first emerged when the Likas assemblyperson was awarded the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu PGDK, which carries the title “Datuk”, in conjunction with the 71st birthday celebration of Sabah Governor Juhar Mahiruddin on Oct 5.

The party has a policy that prevents elected representatives from accepting honorific titles while in office.

Last year the party’s central executive committee reprimanded fellow Sabah DAP leaders Ginger Phoong and Chan Foong Hin for accepting titles.

Selangor exco Ng Suee Lim also accepted an award last year.

Tan told reporters yesterday that he had sent the letter to decline the award, adding that he had attended the investiture ceremony as a guest and not as a recipient.

“I submitted my letter to the chief minister as soon as I was informed that I was conferred the award. But I have yet to receive any official correspondence from the Istana Negeri though it was gazetted,” he had said.

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