Former Sabah DAP deputy chairman Edward Ewol Mujie
KOTA KINABALU: A former Sabah DAP leader has called for stern action against two senior party members who received the state’s Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) award, which carries the title Datuk.
Edward Ewol Mujie, the former state DAP deputy chairman, said the party risked losing the people’s support should the party turn a blind eye to the matter.
He said the central leadership had already "made noise" about the issue.
Secretary-general Anthony Loke had said the central executive committee (CEC) would decide on the appropriate action to be taken against Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin; and Sabah DAP secretary Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, who is state Industrial and Entrepreneur Development Minister.
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Mujie said, however, a similar case happened in Sabah during the Parti Warisan administration when several state DAP elected representatives were awarded datukships.
"The DAP headquarters was not happy at all, due to its policy (of not accepting such awards while active in politics) being violated," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Oct 24), adding that the issue was then swept under the carpet.
"If DAP cannot walk the talk (in matters of) party discipline, then how can it be entrusted to run the country?
"The party must take stern action as the public's trust in the party is at stake," he added.
On Oct 8, Loke said Chan and Phoong had violated the party’s policy by accepting the awards, noting the matter would be deliberated upon at the next CEC meeting.
Loke also said he had advised the two leaders to adhere to the party's policy that only retired members were allowed to accept honours.
He said Chan, who is Kota Kinabalu MP, had informed him about the offer of the state award during the CEC meeting a few days prior to the ceremony.
The PGDK was given in conjunction with Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin's birthday celebrations on Oct 7.
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Chan told reporters at the time that he accepted the award as a mark of respect and honour from the state governor.
He added, however, that he was prepared to accept any decision by the party.
Mujie said a good example to follow was party veteran Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, who only received the title after he retired from DAP.
"DAP’s prime objective is to serve the people, not for any awards and titles," Mujie said.
"Do (the party top guns) who called for the representatives (concerned) to retire, do they mean business or will they be diam-diam (silent) like in the past in Sabah?" he asked.
