The Penang Pakatan Rakyat government has decided not emulate the political footsteps of its predecessor Barisan Nasional when it comes to state titles and awards.

In an unprecedented move to break away from stereotyped political tradition, the state government coalition partners, DAP and PKR, have decided not to shower titles and awards on their members under political quota, at least for the time being, unlike the previous BN state government.

The DAP and PKR local leaders and members have been told to deliver and serve the public first before they can line up to earn titles and awards in future.

Leaders of Pakatan Rakyat coalition said the new state government was voted in to administer, develop and restore the glory era of this northern island state, not for party members to jostle for personal honours.

As such, the local leaders and members should deliver on Pakatan Rakyat promises before they can earn the people's respect and approval to deservedly being honoured with titles such as Datuk Seri, Datukship, or receive state awards such PJM, PJK and PKT.

Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the Penang DAP made the decision to show to the public that the party was keen and sincere to serve all Penangites, rather than honouring party members with personal titles and awards.

"We have decided not to award titles and medals to party members. We are here to serve the people, not to serve ourselves," he said.

However, although party members are disallowed to collect titles and awards under the DAP quota, they are nonetheless not prohibited to earn them under the non-governmental organisation quota.

This would provide certain form of reprieve for DAP members, many of whom were also involved actively in social and temple organisations.

Penang DAP leaders and grassroots leaders unanimously adopted the stance during a closed-door dialogue session with party top brass at a leading hotel early this month.

Wait for two, three years

DAP's partner in state government coalition PKR has also adopted a similar policy, albeit with a slight difference.

While the Penang DAP did not stipulate any time frame for party leaders and members to receive state accolades, PKR has adopted a policy to reward its leaders and members after two or three years of service in the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

PKR Penang liaison committee chairperson and Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said that the party would allow its local leaders and members to be honoured with state titles and awards from the head of state, the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang, after they had proven their service and delivery to the people of Penang.

Taking a swipe at the previous Barisan Nasional state government's political style, he said it was a wrong approach to honour party leaders and members merely on the virtue of being part of the ruling party.

"We shall not honour party leaders with Datukships merely because they are state excos, MPs or assemblypersons.

"We will not practice in similar way of previous administration by lavishly awarding titles and awards to our leaders and members.

"They will have to earn the rights for their honours," he said.

In the previous administration under the BN rule for the past 50 years, many coalition leaders and members would jostle for individual honours to self-promote themselves and earn bragging rights over others.