WHILE International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking’s striking Kadazandusun “sigah” headgear turned heads at the swearing-in ceremony today, it was Deputy Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Chong Chieng Jen’s ordinary songkok that “amazed” James Masing.

“CCJ is wearing the songkok,” the Sarawak deputy chief minister said in a WhatsApp chat group, referring to Chong.

“Why now? He never did at DUN (state legislative assembly) openings.”

Though Masing admired Chong for having the “guts” to don the songkok at Istana Negara, he still branded the state Pakatan Harapan chief and Bandar Kuching MP a “political chameleon”.

He was referring to the ruckus that Chong and five other DAP reps kicked up in 2006, when they refused to wear the required ceremonial dress and songkok at the opening of the state assembly.

It was also a breakthrough year for the party, winning that number of seats in the May state elections.

It was reported that Chong was following a DAP policy not to wear the ceremonial dress, including the songkok.

He and the other DAP reps have never worn the ceremonial dress or songkok at state assembly openings.

When Speaker Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar ruled that those who failed to comply would face censure under the Standing Orders for disobeying the chair, then Batu Lintang assemblyman Voon Lee Shan, in his debate on the issue, said the DAP reps’ action was “consistent with the right and protection enshrined in Article 10(a) of the federal constitution”.

Voon said it was “freedom of expression”. – July 2, 2018.