Ahmad Maslan's Claim On DAP Leaders And Honorary Titles Is Slander - Adly

MELAKA, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- Melaka Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Adly Zahari has described as slander a claim by UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan that top DAP leaders are not conferred honorary titles such as 'Datuk' because of the party's stance on the institution of the Malay Rulers.

Adly, who is also Amanah vice-president, said the allegation was an attempt to discredit PH amid the ongoing campaign for the 16th Melaka State Election.

"Therefore, I conclude that the statement is slander," he said at PH's daily press conference at the coalition's main operations room here today.

He said the allegation was baseless, pointing out that several DAP leaders had received honorary titles during PH's tenure in government, including in Melaka.

"A top DAP leader, Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, also received a title. Even among UMNO leaders, there were those who did not hold titles, such as Tun Ghafar Baba, who was conferred a title posthumously," he said.

According to media reports, Ahmad, who is also Deputy Works Minister, made the claim during an election campaign in Kampung Lendu Dalam last night, alleging that DAP leaders were reluctant to accept honorary titles because they did not wish to recognise the position and institution of the Malay Rulers.

Ahmad also cited this as one of the reasons for the ideological differences between UMNO and DAP, alongside disagreements over the concept of a secular state and the position of Islam in the Federal Constitution.

The Election Commission (EC) has set this Saturday as polling day for the 16th Melaka State Election, with 687,697 registered voters eligible to cast their ballots.

For the latest updates on the 16th Melaka State Election, visit https://election.bernama.com/pm/melaka/2026/.

-- BERNAMA