Encik Lim Guan Eng

LGE, if you find it "rather uncomfortable" to accept state awards, just let the other Pakatan Rakyat's Menteri Besar know that you don't want in advance. Then, you would not be offered any.

LGE, is a Public Relation king, now he made himself into a SAINT.

But, the supreme leader of Pakatan Rakyat, also used to say that, now he is a Dato' Seri.

Just follow the example of the late Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba, our ex-Deputy PM. He prefer Encikship. He only accepted the title after he left mainstream politics. Read the blog posting by A Simple Malaysian below.

Monday, April 24, 2006

A Great Stateman Has Passed Away Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, died of heart, lung and kidney complications at 7.34am yesterday at the Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre in Jalan Ampang. He was 81 years old.

Tun Abd Ghafar Baba was no ordinary politician, he was a great statemen, who was from the grassroot, for the grassroot and with the grassroot till the day he died.

He worked very hard for national unity, eradication of poverty and corruptions all his life. Tun Ghafar was not a slew and cunning politician, he was one who "shoots straight", otherwise he would have become the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Unfortunately he was betrayed by those who pretended to be loyal to him but quietly manipulated to unseat him in the party election in 1993.

During the peak of his political life Tun Ghafar refused to accept any titles bestowed upon him, he preferred to be addressed as "Encik Ghafar" officially. He only accepted any title when he was no longer in the mainstream of politics. What a simple but great man!

Tun Ghafar's passing away will be missed by everyone who believes in good and straight ways.


Malaysiakini, Beh Lih Yi & Steven Gan, May 14, 08 3:33pm
Q&A: Datukship - to accept or not to accept?

What is your stand on party leaders receiving honorary titles like Datukship?
I have my personal view on this and I find it rather uncomfortable (to accept it). But I also find there are certain ceremonial steps and courtesies (which should be) accorded to the Malay rulers. To refuse would be seen as tantamount to 'lese masjeste' (offending the dignity of His Majesty).

But your father (has refused in the past too)...
Yes, but Kit Siang is not an exco member. When you are a senior exco member the concern is that you will be seen as 'lese masjeste' especially when it’s given by the sultans.

Has there been any discussion within the party on this matter?
We felt, of course, very uncomfortable with it but because it was given by the royalty, we don’t want to refuse. To refuse would be like a rebuke to a royalty. We express our concern and discomfiture that if possible, it should not be accepted. At the same time, we give them (party leaders) the leeway to decide.

What about you personally? What if an honorary title is offered to you?
I am the one approving it (as Penang chief minister), I won’t approve one Datukship for myself, no way, no. I won’t be comfortable accepting it. If it (the honorary title) is proposed by menteri besar ... I can tell him no, but if it is proposed by the sultan, it is a different picture. But as I said, there is no reason for the sultan (in other states) to offer to me as much as I respect the sultans. I prefer to be known just as an ‘encik’.

P.S. Suggest LGE follow Gerakan policy for its members, go and ask Dato' Lee Kah Choon. Sdra. Koh is even more "kedekut" with JP appointments - Zero, but you should not follow him, please give some political rewards to your cronies