Three DAP politicians to be conferred Datukship

GEORGE TOWN: Three DAP politicians – former state exco members Lim Hock Seng and Danny Law Heng Kiang as well as ex-assemblyman A. Tanasekharan – are accor­ded Datukship in conjunction with Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas’ 80th birthday.

Lim and Law will be receiving the Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negeri (DMPN) award and Tanasekharan, the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN).

The three did not seek re-election in GE14.

State Secretary Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said these politicians are the first ones to receive the titles under Pakatan Harapan after their retirement.

Other post-retirement DAP lawmakers who had been bestowed titles were Datuk Wong Han Yoke as well as the late Datuk Chian Heng Kai and the late Datuk Tan Loo Jit.

Lim said it has been an understanding in DAP since long ago that the members do not accept state awards when they are in public service as Members of Parliament or state assemblymen.

“It’s not a rule in our party, just a convention. But when we are no longer in public service, it doesn’t apply,” he said.

Lim added that after the Governor consented to the recommendation of the DAP-led state government to award them, “we found it difficult to decline.”

A total of 962 people will be receiving their awards from Abdul Rahman during the investiture ceremony at Dewan Sri Pinang starting today.

Another highlight of the ceremony will be the Pingat Gagah Perwira (PGP), which will be given to a member of the Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd auxiliary police, Konst Zaidi Salleh, who leapt off the second Penang bridge to save a woman earlier this year.

It is believed that the award, which is bestowed upon individuals who show extraordinary bravery in difficult situations, was last given out some 15 years ago.

Armed Forces chief Jen Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin and businessman Tan Sri Tan King Tai @ Tan Khoon Hai will head the state honours list with conferment of the Darjah Panglima Pangkuan Negeri (DPPN), which accords the Datuk Seri title.

Thirteen people, including former Penang mayor and now executive director of UN-Habitat Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif and state police chief Comm Datuk A. Thaiveegan, will receive the Darjah Gemilang Pangkuan Negeri (DGPN), which carries the Datuk Seri title.

Also receiving the DGPN title is QSR Brands managing director Datuk Mohamed Azahari Mohamed Kamil.

Among the 11 recipients who will be receiving the Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negeri (DMPN), which carries the title Datuk, are Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, former Penang police chief Comm Datuk Wira Chuah Ghee Lye and Western Digital (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd business and operations support senior director Datuk Syed Hussian Syed Junid.

A total of 62 people will receive the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN), which carries the title Datuk, including Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub and Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Yew Tung Seang.