'Datukship a catch-22 problem for DAP'

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today stressed that the party was not in politics to pursue datukships, but declined to tread into political sensitive waters on whether the party would change its unwritten rule of not accepting such titles. 

“This is a dangerous question, if I answer we will accept, it will appear as if we are in for titles; if I say will not accept, we will appear as if we are disrespectful to the royalty,” he told a press conference at the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

He was responding to Sekinchan state assemblyperson Ng Suee Lim’s suggestion for the party to accept such titles from the Malay rulers to prevent itself from being labelled as anti-Malay and anti-royalty.

Lim said the matter does not arise as no titles are presently being offered to DAP representatives.

“I don’t think there are any issues of us not respecting the royalty. The sultans will need to award them first so the matter does not arise,” he said.

Lim added that the party’s main purpose would still remain serving the rakyat rather than for titles.

“I am comfortable being called saudara (mister), even after I retire I would be comfortable with it,” said Lim, who is also Penang chief minister.

The issue of state titles had arisen in late 2010 when there were speculations that DAP’s Sungai Pinang state assemblyperson Teng Chang Khim was about to be granted a datukship.

However, the party did not oppose Teng’s acceptance of the title after it was revealed that the award came directly from the recommendation of the Selangor palace for his role as Selangor state legislative assembly speaker.

‘Tokong matter has passed’

Lim also declined to comment on being called a ‘Tokong’ (deity) by Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman, stating that the matter had passed.

He added that the negotiations with DAP and PKR on seat allocation in Penang were not a “big issue”, but declined to disclose further information.

Mansor had allegedly uttered the word during an informal PKR meeting which among others discussed the seat allocation in Penang for the next general election.

On another matter, Lim said it was yet to be seen whether MCA’s relentless attack on DAP and PAS with regard to hudud law will have any impact on the electorate.

“Let’s wait and see when the general election comes,” he said.

He added that among the top leadership of PAS and DAP, it was still business as usual despite the hudud law controversy.