HONORIFICS ARE "HOLLOW CROWNS"

Hollow Crowns

DATUK, DATUK EVERYWHERE, EVEN IN JAILS!

The Star Reports, 12th October 2004

In the wake of questions arising from the awarding of Datukship, the National Council of Justices of Peace has called for a more thorough system of vetting prospective recipients so that they do not become the “laughing stock of society”.

Council secretary Datuk M. Ramalingam said that in the current situation, it would be better not to have any honorific title.

Many deserving people were overlooked while others who had not contributed much to society have been awarded with JP, Datuk or Datuk Seri titles, he said.

"We have people who are not yet 30 being awarded the Datukship, while those who have held public positions over 40 to 50 years are being overlooked. We also have JPs and Datuks who are serving time in prison for criminal and other related offences."

In view of the current happenings, what are better words to describe the awards than “Hollow Crowns”? Said Datuk Ramalingam.

Ramalingam said he served in at least 30 organizations and held various public offices for 34 years before he received his Datukship from Negri Sembilan.

Not too long ago, I was introduced to a businessman who happens to be a Datuk. He is only in his early 30s, and a member of UMNO. He sells secondhand cars and has a gun-trading licence. From our conversation, he told me his humble beginning, where he was a washcar boy for more than 10 years but he didn't reveal to me how within a short 5 years he had become a multi-millionaire. (snip)

When I was serving as a senior executive officer in a public listed company, very often I had been approach by those well-connected people who rub shoulders with the royalties who were basically sourcing for people who needs Datukships. (snip)

According to what was reported in the New Straits Time (10th October), Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam was quoted to have said that: "Those appointed Datuk (in conjunction with the Yang di-Pertuan Negeri Tun Khalil Yaakob’s 66th birthday celebrations) had contributed greatly to the general election win for the Barisan National and this is his way of recognizing their efforts and repaying them."

So, the rational put forward by Datuk Ramalingam that honorifics are awarded to those that had served and contributed to the society does not hold water, as awards are selectively given to those who help Barisan Nasional wins election (if the reason stated by the Menteri besar of Malacca is constructed in accordance with what he says).

So you can see why Lim Kit Siang and Kapal Singh is still Mister....
Not too long from now, we should have Datuk Khairy ... best early wishes to him!