THE priority for DAP’S elected representatives must be to serve the people and not to chase after honorific titles like Datuk like Barisan Nasional politicians, said Lim Guan Eng.

The party secretary-general said he did not want them to adopt the BN culture.

“DAP does not want this kind of BN culture, where there were so many who pursued the Datuk title.

“This is the stand of the DAP and it is a challenge for the party to prevent this unhealthy culture from BN from sneaking its way into the DAP. Priority must be given to the people.

“If you want to look for appreciation, it must come from the people who are satisfied with the service of the elected representatives and not by trying to raise ourselves through titles,” the Finance Minister told reporters today. 

Yesterday, DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke Siew Fook announced that the party’s central executive committee (CEC) had decided that elected representatives and local councillors could not accept titles and awards during their time in office.

Loke said the matter was decided at a CEC meeting last Monday, a decision confirming the consensus reached over the last decade.

“I hope that the statement issued by Anthony Loke on the DAP’s decision has made it clear that the CEC is dissatisfied with what is happening and is not satisfied with the explanation given (by those who accepted the titles). Sometimes, we do not need it (titles),” Lim said.

Lim also pointed out that he had never been conferred a title, but that did not impede his work.

“I’m not a Datuk, but I’ve been a DAP leader over the years and that’s the message we’re trying to deliver.

“If we want to be a successful elected politician, it is important that we must serve the people.

“Do not be like MCA leaders and so on,” he said. – October 17, 2018.