The state health and people’s well-being minister said the state DAP recipients of the award had never lobbied for the titles but had accepted them out of respect for the Sabah head of state.
Wong, who is the Sandakan MP, said the party’s central executive committee had accepted their explanation on the recognition conferred by Sabah governor Juhar Mahiruddin in conjunction with the latter’s 65th birthday.
“The most important matter now is to move on and serve the people the best we can and prove that DAP representatives are not after fame or riches,” he said here today.
Despite breaking tradition this time, the principal in future, he added, was to decline if any DAP member were to receive an award or title unless in exceptional cases and with the party’s endorsement.
Besides Wong, Sabah Youth and Sports Minister Frankie Poon and Assistant Minister to the Sabah Chief Minister Jimmy Wong also received the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) award, which carries the “Datuk” title.
Sabah DAP’s six other elected representatives received the Ahli Setia Darjah Kinabalu (ASDK), which does not carry any title and is a rung lower than the PGDK.
The representatives are Karamunting assemblyman Calvin Chong Ket Kuin, Luyang representative Phoong Jin Zhe, Likas representative Tan Lee Fatt, Kepayan assemblyman Jannie Lasimbang, Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin and Tenom MP Noorita Sual.
The Borneo Post reported that Wong had also said he wanted the people to call him Jimmy or “tiger”, referring to his nickname.
Wong said this would bring him closer to the public, adding that he only wanted a chance to serve the people, with titles not being a priority.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had recently, without mentioning names, voiced criticism of DAP leaders accepting “Datukships”, saying they should prove their worth before accepting such awards.
He urged them to emulate the late Ghafar Baba who only accepted the “Tunship” after he retired.
He added that DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and the late DAP veteran Karpal Singh had also refused such awards as they only wanted to serve the people.
Lim said the party’s central executive committee would be meeting to discuss members who had accepted state awards.
Besides the Sabah DAP leaders, the party’s elected representatives in Melaka, namely Bandar Hilir and Bemban assemblymen Tey Kok Kiew and Wong Fort Pin, respectively, received the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka, which carries the title “Datuk”.
They were awarded the recognition in conjunction with the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka Dr Mohd Khalil Yaakob’s 80th birthday on Oct 13.