KLIA scolding incident a ‘blessing in disguise' for new Datuk, says friend
KOTA KINABALU (June 27): One of the recipients of the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) award conferred in conjunction with the Sabah Head of State's official birthday last week, which carries the prestigious title Datuk, is James Lee, a name that might raise eyebrows for those unfamiliar with his story.
James, a Sino-Kadazan from Penampang, once served as a senior officer overseeing the immigration office at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). His name made headlines in August 2022 when he and his team were publicly chastised by then Director-General of the Malaysia Public Service Department, Datuk Seri Shafiq Abdullah.
On August 3 that year, Shafiq, apparently dissatisfied that no immigration officer was immediately present to attend to him at the VIP room in KLIA, summoned the entire team — including James — and berated them. Shafiq was reported to have shouted angrily, using abusive language and demanding the officers stand at attention while he spoke. Witnesses recalled him yelling, 'Do you know who I am?'
Datuk Teddy Chin, a long-time friend of James, said the incident, which quickly went viral on social media, ironically became the turning point in James's career.
'Many people asked, 'Who is James?' when they heard he received the Datukship,' Teddy said.
'Well, James is the officer who stood firm with dignity when he and his team were humiliated in public. He kept his calm and did his duty, and everyone from the immigration union to the minister defended him.'
Following the outcry, the Immigration Workers Union and then Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin stood by James, describing him as a dedicated officer. Even the Director-General of Immigration publicly defended his conduct. The matter escalated to the Federal Cabinet, where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri ordered a high-level investigation, noting that CCTV footage should make it easy to verify what had really happened.
The findings ultimately cleared James and his team of any wrongdoing and instead found Shafiq's conduct unbecoming of a top government official. In an unprecedented move, the Cabinet endorsed Shafiq's dismissal — a decision that reportedly shocked him.
'People thought James's career would suffer, but it was the opposite. He kept doing his job quietly. VIPs from Sabah travelling through KLIA would meet him and encourage him to stay strong,' Teddy said. 'In the end, he was promoted to director of Immigration in Perak, and now he has received a Datukship from the Sabah Governor. I believe someone who saw his dedication must have recommended him.'
Shafiq, meanwhile, claimed there was a conspiracy to block his rise as the next Chief Secretary and threatened to sue the government over his sacking, but there has been no news of any legal action since.
'James always believed in serving with integrity, even when under pressure,' Teddy added. 'That scolding in the VIP room, which was meant to belittle him, turned out to be a blessing in disguise.'
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