Not good enough, DAP representative told

Parti Warisan said DAP Likas Assemblyman Tan Lee Fatt’s decision to decline the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) award, which carries the title “Datuk,” by writing to the Chief Minister is not the end of the matter.

(Daily Express) – Warisan legal advisor Chin Tek Ming said he should write to the Governor as his name remains on the official list of recipients published in the gazette, making him, technically, a Datuk.

Tan had cited DAP’s policy against accepting awards until retirement from active politics as his reason.

He said he had only written to the Chief Minister regarding the matter.

“According to the state constitution, only when his name is officially removed from the gazette can the title be considered truly rescinded,” Chin said.

Chin questioned Tan’s sincerity in turning down the award, suggesting that a lack of formal action could be seen as a tactic to avoid a direct confrontation with the DAP central committee.

“If the Chief Minister does not respond to a formal letter, Tan can continue to hold the title,” Chin said.

“And if the title is revoked, he can take a moral high ground against the DAP central committee, claiming he did not openly violate the party’s code unlike his colleagues, Kota Kinabalu MP Datuk Chan Foong Hin and Luyang assemblyman and Sabah DAP secretary Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe.”