CEC to decide on action against Chan, Phoong for accepting Datukship, says DAP sec-gen

KOTA KINABALU: Action will be taken against two senior Sabah DAP leaders who received the state’s Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) award that carries the title Datuk as it was against party policy to accept such awards while active in politics.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said that the party’s central executive committee will decide on the appropriate action to be taken against Datuk Chan Foong Hin, who is Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister and Sabah DAP secretary Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, who is state Industrial and Entrepreneur Development Minister.

Loke told a news portal that he had advised the two leaders to adhere to the party’s policy that only retired DAP members are allowed to accept honours given out by the heads of state and Federal Government.

Loke said Chan, who is Kota Kinabalu MP, had informed him about the offer of the state awards during the central executive committee meeting a few days prior to the award ceremony.

The PGDK award was given in conjunction with the Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin’s birthday celebrations on Oct 7.

According to Loke, Chan said that both his and Phoong’s names were already in the honours list gazette.

“They have violated the party’s policy by accepting the awards. Therefore, the matter will be referred to and deliberated upon at the next CEC meeting,” added Loke.

On Saturday (Oct 7), Chan told reporters here that he had accepted the award as a mark of respect and honour from the state governor.

He said he was prepared to face and accept whatever decision that is made by the party over the issue of him accepting the PGDK.

“I received a phone call from the Istana on Thursday (Oct 5), whose officials asked me to attend the rehearsal at the Istana on Friday (Oct 6).

“So I felt that it wasn’t easy or right to refuse it since I am a Sabahan. This offer is from the governor and state government, so I receive it with good faith,” he explained.

Chan, said at one point, both he and Phoong were thinking of withdrawing, but by then, their names were already in the honours list gazette.