Loke said the policy still stands and there are no exceptions; however, there were occasions when titles were conferred on DAP members of state assemblies by the respective heads of state, the Borneo Post reported.

He said these elected representatives were conferred the honours without them asking for it, adding that the party was aware of the situation.

DAP has since taken “certain measures within the party”, Loke said.

“As far as this policy is concerned, as I mentioned to them, I will raise it at the next party congress for the members to debate whether we should review the policy,” he was quoted as saying when opening Sabah DAP’s ordinary convention in Kota Kinabalu.

Likas assemblyman Tan Lee Fatt became the latest DAP leader to be conferred a datukship when he was awarded the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) on Oct 3 in conjunction with the birthday celebration of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.

Loke said all five DAP federal cabinet ministers are without title, except the deputy minister from Sabah. “I don’t have a title. I’m not a Datuk. I am just an Encik,” said Loke, who is the transport minister.

Last year, DAP said it had strongly reprimanded Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin and Luyang assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe for violating the policy.

Chan later acknowledged that he breached the party’s rule by accepting the title, but said he only did so out of respect for the Sabah governor.

In 2018, the DAP central committee approved a resolution and issued a written advisory to all DAP elected representatives and local councillors, urging them not to accept titles and awards during their active political service.

At today’s convention, Phoong was named as Sabah DAP chief succeeding Frankie Poon who held the post from November 2021. Chan was named as deputy chairman, with Jannie Lasimbang and Noorita Sual appointed as vice-chairmen.