Teng explains why DAP changed position on headgear

PETALING JAYA: For years, he refused
to wear the songkok,
even turning down invitations which required him to wear the traditional Malay
headgear.



But now that lawyer Teng Chang Khim from the DAP is the new Selangor Assembly Speaker, he understood the need to
conform.

New attire: Teng posing outside the state assembly in full
Speaker regalia after the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday.

“Much attention was on whether I would wear the songkok and the ceremonial
robe after taking the oath of office. Well, I did.

“I have already explained why we have to change our position before the
swearing-in of the state executive council members last month. It should
not be an issue anymore,” wrote Teng in the latest posting at
tengchangkhim.blogspot.com

He even put up a picture of himself in full Speaker outfit and smiling
outside the State Assembly after the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday.

In the posting, Teng explained that when DAP was in the Opposition
before the March 8 polls, leaders had the option not to attend any official
function which required the songkok to be worn as part of the dress code.

“The party chose to exercise that option, which had been a DAP policy for
years.

“However, now that DAP is a partner in a coalition government, leaders
have no choice but to follow the dress code. Otherwise, the coalition government
can never be formed,” wrote Teng.
Teng was not the first state assemblyman from DAP to be keenly watched
over the wearing of the songkok.

When his fellow party leaders in state government, Ronnie Liu and Ean Yong Hian Wah, were sworn in as
executive councillors before Selangor's Sultan Sharaffudin Idris Shah on March 24, much attention was focused
on the songkok on
their heads as well.

Well for me, as you said it should not be any
issue anymore, but i think you should at least appology to MCA for your wrong accusation in the past which i
think its was merely a political gimmick to won chinese favorably rather than a correct thing to
do.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006
DAP
Sarawak roars
Proceedings
in the Sarawak
State Assembly has certainly turned lively with the emergence of
the DAP 6 elected representitives.The Sin
Chew Jit Poh reported today that
the 6
DAP
representatives refused to wear the ceremonial dress, commonly known as No.
1 suit, while attending the opening ceremony of the assembly yesterday.

“It has been the DAP policy not to wear the
No. 1 suit which comes with
a songkok. I have never wore one since 1995”.

I had even protested when
the invitation cards to attend the
swearing in ceremony of Tan Sri Abu Hassan
Omar as the Selangor Menteri Besar at Alam Shah palace in 1997
stated,
unprecedently, that all the guests were required to
wear songkok.

Upon
my protest, the directive was withdrawn. However, the palace
had later imposed
again the ruling after the present Sultan came to the
throne.

“Since then,
I had never attended any official functions that required the wearing of
songkok.”

posted by Teng Chang Khim at 7/25/2006 04:38:00 PM

i have
pick some article written by Teng at last 2006 where he clearly raise his standpoint on the above issue but now it seems that he is the one who give way to the rules of protocol.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong hailed this as a
positive development.
“Now, they understand the need to follow rules and
regulations. I welcome this development.
“Previously, when MCA leaders wore the songkok at official
functions or during an audience with royalty, DAP criticised us, saying we had turned our backs on
our culture as the songkok was not part of our traditional wear."
“MCA tried to
explain that we wore it out of respect and because it was the culture of our
hosts, but our explanations were pushed aside,” said Chong.

Beware of the BN controlled media
"Yes,
I forgot to remind Raja Petra and his readers. Please beware of the
BN-controlled media for digging up and pitting the old issues, including the songkok issue, against us."
"Seek clarification among us, since we are in
the same boat, before putting anything into writing. That will help to reduce unnecessary
controversy."
Teng Chang Khim, Sunday, 15 March 2008

What is the rational point he send this signal,
it was clearly he do want to put some control of the media? where is the slogan
for Free and Independent Media? Please ask him....