DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the Melaka party leader need not return the award he had received but should apologise to the party.
“Another Melaka DAP recipient, Dr Wong Fort Pin has apologised publicly, similarly two Sabah leaders have also done so.
“Now the lone Melaka DAP recipient is still stubborn,” Lim told reporters after opening the 18th Negeri Sembilan DAP Convention today.
Lim said the DAP member should give priority to serving the people and country and not for the pursuit of material gains.
“I am afraid they would forget the primary task of serving the people after having just served a few months,” he said.
Lim did not mention the leader’s name but it was clear he was referring to Bandar Hilir assemblyman and Melaka DAP chairman, Tey Kok Kiew.
Tey and Wong were conferred the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka which carries the title “Datuk” in conjunction with the 80th birthday of Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri, Mohd Khalil Yaakob.
Early this month, two Sabah DAP state ministers Stephen Wong and Frankie Poon were awarded the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu which carries the title Datuk.