Stir over DAP man’s ‘Sir’ title
By MUGUNTAN VANAR
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
KOTA KINABALU: A purported “knighthood” from Queen Elizabeth II to a state DAP member is creating a major stir, even among his party members.
Self-professed Chinese medicine practitioner Jeffrey Wong Su En claimed that he was conferred the Knight Grand Cross (GBE) by the Queen in conjunction with her recent birthday.
An advertisement in a local Chinese daily even had a picture of him receiving the award, which carries the title Sir.
British High Commission officials in Kuala Lumpur, responding to e-mails by the media in Sabah stated: “We can confirm that we have no record of any honour having been conferred at any time by the British Government on Jeffery Wong Su En.”
With the controversy being played up daily in the local Chinese papers, Wong issued a statement yesterday saying that the “knighthood” had nothing to do with the British awards but was issued by Papua New Guinea in conjunction with the Queen’s 84th birthday celebrations.
Award controversy: The picture provided by Wong shows the Queen conferring the award to Wong. Many claim this picture was doctored.
However, his three-paragraph statement did not refer to when or where the photograph of him purportedly receiving the award from the Queen was taken. Many suspect the picture might have been doctored.
Wong only said that he was in the process of getting the relevant documents from the Papua New Guinea government.
“This is a personal matter. It has nothing to do with the public, and it is becoming politicised,” he said in his statement.
He had initially claimed that the award was in recognition for his contributions to international humanitarian aid organisations and Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders).
Meanwhile, DAP Youth added to Wong’s woes: It issued a statement that Wong was not the DAP Youth chief in Sabah.
And, in a show cause letter issued on Tuesday, he was given two weeks to explain his claim given via several media statements earlier this year.
Wong’s supporters said yesterday that they were dissolving four party branches in the Tanjung Aru area in protest over the show cause letter.
Malaysian politician faked pictures of knighthood from the Queen
A Malaysian politician is facing the sack for superimposing his head on to a picture of the Queen giving out honours in an attempt to claim he had been knighted.
The fake photograph featuring Jeffrey Wong Su En and the Queen
Jeffrey Wong Su En has been accused of insulting the Commonwealth with his false claims.
"Sir" Wong issued a press release detailing his award and became an overnight celebrity in Malaysia, where society has become obsessed by people with titles.
In the doctored picture issued by Mr Wong, he stands proud as Her Majesty pins the Knight Grand Cross to his breast. However, his name does not appear in the Queen's birthday honours list.
"We can confirm that we have no record of any honour having been conferred at any time by the British Government on Jeffery Wong Su En," said a spokesperson from the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.
An analysis of Mr Wong's photograph of him holding a certificate shows a crest at the top of the certificate claiming to be from Buckingham Palace, with a red seal.
In fact, warrants for such honours are administered by the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, which is based at St James's Palace. Mr Wong's certificate bears no resemblance to the Royal warrants used for such honours.
The collar worn by Mr Wong is not the pure gold collar of the British Empire worn at knighthood investitures. Finally, the knighthood investiture ceremonies for the 2010 birthday honours list have not yet taken place.
Mr Wong, who is the deputy publicity chief for the Democratic Action Party, a Malaysian opposition party in Sabah, northern Borneo, claims the honour was in recognition of his contribution to aid organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières.
Rival politicians in the state immediately demanded an explanation.
Mr Wong, a self-proclaimed traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who also insists on the title "Dr", attempted to clarify the matter, defiantly claiming his "knighthood" was conferred by Papua New Guinea in conjunction with the Queen's 84th birthday celebrations.
"This is a personal matter. It has nothing to do with the public, and it is becoming politicised," he said, stating he is in the process of getting the relevant documents from the Papua New Guinea government.
Mr Wong has been questioned by police but was later released. However, he is facing expulsion from his party.
Chin Teck Ming, supreme councillor of a rival party stated that if the claim is indeed false, Mr Wong had insulted a foreign monarch and members of the Commonwealth countries and tarnished the image of Malaysia.
