State Honours: Merit-Based Assessment not Age or Backgrounds

31 March 2026

KOTA KINABALU: The conferment of state honours in conjunction with the 75th Official Birthday of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah is described as being based on merit and eligibility, and therefore should not be disputed merely on the grounds of age or family background, said pro–Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) political activist, Aksyah Nasrah.

He said that the attention given to the three recipients of the Pingat Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK), which carries the title “Datuk”, namely Ghazali Hajiji, Hazeem Mubarak Musa and Kurniawan Naim Moktar, should be viewed in terms of their achievements and contributions, rather than turned into a political polemic.

According to him, criticism from certain quarters, particularly opposition supporters who question the recipients’ eligibility on the basis of their relatively young age, fails to take into account the reality that many leaders today also received the same honour at a similar or even younger age.

“They seem to forget that some senior leaders today were conferred state honours at a young age, including among the top leadership within their own parties,” he said when commenting on the issue today.

Responding to claims that the awards were influenced by elements of cronyism and lineage, Aksyah stressed that such assertions are merely unfounded perceptions.

“This is simply a coincidence, as they are in the same field—politics and leadership. In reality, the assessment is made based on their achievements and their ability to contribute to the state and its people,” he said.

He added that all three recipients not only hold important roles at the state level, but some have also taken on responsibilities at the national level, thereby creating broader opportunities to serve the public, particularly the younger generation.

As such, he said, the true measure lies not in the title itself, but in continued contributions that have a meaningful impact on the people.

“If these awards are questioned because they are the children of leaders or are involved in politics, then why were similar issues not raised against past leaders who also came from leadership backgrounds?” he said.

Aksyah also called on the public to celebrate the recipients’ achievements as a form of recognition for their efforts and service, while also taking them as an inspiration to continue serving the state.

“For those who have yet to receive such recognition, continue striving sincerely. Awards are not the ultimate goal, but rather the result of continuous service to society,” he said.

He also conveyed birthday greetings to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah and expressed hope that Sabah will continue to progress under the spirit of unity and the implementation of the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 roadmap led by the Chief Minister.

“Congratulations to all award recipients. Continue serving and contributing towards the progress of our beloved Sabah,” he said.