Jelapang rep is now ‘Datuk Hee’

Once dubbed as “the most hated woman in Malaysia”, the Jelapang assemblyman who helped bring down the Perak Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government last year will now be known as “Datuk Hee Yit Foong”.

The deputy state speaker was awarded the Darjah Datuk Paduka Mahkota Perak (DPMP) in conjunction with the Sultan’s 82nd birthday today. .

The now Barisan Nasional-friendly (BN) independent will receive the award at an investiture ceremony today.

The polio patient was one of three state assemblymen in Perak whose decision to turn independent in the 59-seat assembly changed the power equation in February 2009. Hee is the only one to receive the award among the three.

Her involvement had led to a steady stream of criticisms and accusations from her former party colleagues who strongly believed that the estranged former DAP leader was on the Barisan Nasional’s payroll.

Hee had the distinction of being the first non-Malay female and disabled person to be appointed as Deputy Speaker in the state legislative assembly when PR took power after Election 2008.

Today, she will be among the 919 to be conferred awards and titles from the state’s ruler Sultan Azlan Shah and one of the 56 to receive the title of “Datuk”.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/