The DAP secretary-general said the statement by Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria was an attempt to stir up hatred.

“Such action in trying to instigate sentiments against me is irresponsible,” Lim told reporters in Parliament today.

Lim said a police report would be lodged against Razman, who is also PAS treasurer.

“I will ask for action to be taken and I will look into legal avenues.”

He said Razman had twisted his advice to DAP leaders on accepting honourifics.

“I only told party leaders not to ask for Datuk titles within the short span of six months, like the one in Melaka,” he said, referring to his criticism of Melaka DAP chief Tey Kok Kiew for accepting the Datukship without consulting party leaders.

“Even the Melaka chief minister did not receive any titles, so why should exco members like Tey receive them?” Lim said.

He said the focus of elected representatives should be on giving service to the people, not chasing titles.

He said the late Abdul Ghafar Baba, a deputy prime minister who served under Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had also refused to accept titles.

He accused PAS leaders of stirring up racial issues as they had run out of ideas to attack DAP, as well as to cover up their failure in managing the economy.

“It is known that PAS-led states can’t afford to pay their civil servants,” he added.

Yesterday, speaking a gathering attended by PAS and Umno leaders in Pasir Salak, Perak, Razman said Malays were the “tuan” (masters) of the country, and that other races were bound by a social contract affirming the status of the Malays in the country.