Why did Sabah DAP leaders accept Datukship titles against party policy?

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Sabah DAP Leaders Accepted Datukship Titles Due to Respect for State Honours and Government, Despite Party Policy

Sabah Democratic Action Party (DAP) leaders Datuk Chan Foong Hin and Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe accepted Datukship titles, which contravenes the party's policy established in 2018 that reserves such awards for retirees. Both leaders cited respect for the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and the Sabah government as primary reasons for accepting the honours, acknowledging the difficulty in refusing an offer from the state's highest authorities.
Respect for State Authority Influenced Acceptance

Datuk Chan Foong Hin articulated that the decision to accept the Datukship was made out of respect for the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and the Sabah government. He and Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe perceived the offer as a significant honour extended by the state, making it challenging to decline. Their acceptance was based on good faith, considering the esteemed source of the award.
Difficulty in Refusal and Gazetting of Names

Chan and Phoong expressed that refusing the offer was not straightforward, especially as they are Sabahan natives. While they did contemplate withdrawing their names from the list of recipients, their names were eventually gazetted. This development led them to feel a need to honour the decision and recommendation made by the Sabah government and Tun Juhar, viewing it as a matter of respecting the established process.
Intention to Surrender to Party Decision

Datuk Chan Foong Hin indicated his intention to present the matter to the DAP party leadership for their decision. He stated that he would surrender himself to the party, leaving the final judgment on the issue to their discretion. This suggests an acknowledgment of the internal party rules and a willingness to face the consequences or guidance from the party hierarchy.
Advice from Former Chief Minister

Former chief minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee advised Sabah DAP leaders to accept state awards with gratitude, suggesting they should not be overly concerned about potential objections from their national party leadership. He commented on the apparent reluctance of Chan and Phoong, noting that if they truly wished to decline, a courteous explanation to the Chief Minister and the Yang di-Pertua Negeri would have sufficed. Yong shared his personal experience in 2000, where he successfully declined a Datukship award by informing the then Chief Minister and Yang di-Pertua Negeri prior to his name being gazetted.

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Why did Sabah DAP leaders accept Datukship titles against party policy?

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