THE DIGNITY OF THE CONFERRED TITLES
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| Sultan Muhammad V, Yang Dipertuan Agong (from Zafiyah Hussain's photo compilation) |
(English Version)
IT is interesting to have a constitutional parliamentary monarchy country like Malaysia. The country has nine kings in 9 respective states and they share the position of the king for the federation of Malaysia through a unique rotation system in every five years.
Four other states are not involved in the rotation system and the states are led by state governors. Kings and governors are non executive leaders.
The chief executive of the country is prime minister. The chief executive of state is menteri besar and chief minister under the state king and state governor respectively.
The chief executive of the country is prime minister. The chief executive of state is menteri besar and chief minister under the state king and state governor respectively.
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| Deputy Yang Dipertuan Agong |
The official designation for the king of Malaysia is Yang Dipertuan Agong. It is more specific than the general term, His Majesty. The present and 15th Yang Dipertuan Agong is Sultan Muhammad V, the Sultan of Kelantan state.
States led by kings are Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu. Another four states led by governors are Sabah, Sarawak, Melaka and Pulau Pinang. A total of 13 states plus three federal territories, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.
The conferring of an award which carries a title is usually held in conjunction with the birthday celebration of a king or governor. The formal event will see all recipients dressed in proper costumes stipulated by the palace protocol.
Under the state level, there are various titles including Dato', Dato' Sri, Dato' Paduka, Dato' Setia, Dato' Sri Utama, Dato' Sri Diraja, Dato' Sri Panglima and many other titles.
As a federal non executive head of the country, the Yang Dipertuan Agong does not only confer awards which carry titles of Dato' and Dato' Sri. The king also confers awards with more prestigious titles such as Tan Sri and Tun.
It has been a normal practice in Malaysia that the title will be mentioned before the name of an individual in any function or event, letters and correspondences as well as other communication means including media report.
There isn't any reference whether mentioning titles is a legal requirement or merely a practice.
Lately, we notice that certain electronic media companies and also some individual writers are no longer mentioning titles of individuals in their reports or articles.
They probably do so because they may need to optimize the space of the write-ups in every column. Another reason, their target audience could be mainly international readers where titles are not applicable outside Malaysia.
Whatever reasons they have, not mentioning titles before the names of individuals might be seen unusual or against the normal practice. To worsen the situation, it might be seen disrespectful to the kings, sultans and the state governors.
Feedbacks from public could be another important reasons related to the issue. It has become open discussions especially in the social media where netizens were questioning the eligibility and credibility of certain individuals with titles in the country.
Apparently, there are too many Datuks, Datuk Seris and Tan Sris around that make them not much different from other ordinary people.
More and more Datuks, Datuk Seris and Tan Sris were seen wearing or not wearing MACC lock-up orange shirt being prosecuted for committing crime, such as corruption, criminal breach of trust, money laundering, power abuse and molesting girl below 18 years of age.
At least, one of them was a member of a group of gangsters. Another young man with Datuk Seri title was found positive in the drug urine test after allegedly physically beating a Rela volunteer at a parking area. More unbelievable, one Datuk visited a night club only to drink Nescafe!
Artistes and entertainers are another segment of groups conferred awards which carried titles. It shows that this arts and entertainment group is well recognized for their contribution to the society. However, the contribution and talent of some of them in qualifying them for such prestigious titles were questionable.
Nevertheless, one should respect the prerogative of the kings, governors and their committees. It is up to them to confer to whom they feel necessary.
This includes a beautiful and sexy female singer from Indonesia who was conferred a title of Dato' Sri recently. She wasn't really a popular entertaining singer compared to Hetty Koes Endang, Endang S Taurina, Emilia Contessa or at least Kris Dayanti who were among influential vocalists from Indonesia.
There were a number of veterans in the circle who had contributed significantly for the nation, but have yet to receive any kind of formal appreciation from the government.
It could be rumours that said honorific titles were available for sale. At the same time, it is important to remember that when rumours spread repeatedly, it can change people's perception.
P. Ramlee, the most legendary artiste Malaysia has ever had, died on May 29, 1973 at the age of 44. The film maker, singer, actor, director, musìcian, songwriter, composer and producer was posthumously awarded honorific title Tan Sri in 1990, 17 years after his death. The title was conferred by then Yang Dipertuan Agong, Sultan Azlan Shah. P. Ramlee was also posthumously granted sobriquet Seniman Agung.
Honorific title is a gift and certainly not a request. It may turn otherwise when there are certain ambitious individuals who desperately need honorific titles for personal glory.
With titles, they would psychologically secure better impression for their companies profile and can expect VVIP treatment from the public and service oriented organizations. Most importantly, they believed that title would enhance one's personal image development.
Whether we like it or not, the "over supply" of datukship, datukseriship and tansriship in the market has slowly affected negatively the good image and the dignity of the titles themselves.
There is a possibility in future, started by media, followed by letters and correspondences, as well as master of ceremony's trending development in events and functions, the title before the name will no longer be mentioned.
When this really happens, the excitement to request or to "buy" titles will decline by itself as no one is mentioning them anymore.
By Fauzi Kadir
Permadu Harmony/Permadu Malaysia
All Rights Reserved
Copyright Fauzi Kadir 2018
All pictures compiled by
Zafiyah Hussain
Contact Us
+60 11 1185 9874 Whatsapp
E-mail to permadu@gmail.com
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| Sultan Ahmad Shah, Sultan of Pahang (from Zafiyah Hussain's photo compilation) |
Under the state level, there are various titles including Dato', Dato' Sri, Dato' Paduka, Dato' Setia, Dato' Sri Utama, Dato' Sri Diraja, Dato' Sri Panglima and many other titles.
As a federal non executive head of the country, the Yang Dipertuan Agong does not only confer awards which carry titles of Dato' and Dato' Sri. The king also confers awards with more prestigious titles such as Tan Sri and Tun.
It has been a normal practice in Malaysia that the title will be mentioned before the name of an individual in any function or event, letters and correspondences as well as other communication means including media report.
 |
| Sultan Ibrahim, Sultan of Johor (from Zafiyah Hussain's photo compilation) |
Lately, we notice that certain electronic media companies and also some individual writers are no longer mentioning titles of individuals in their reports or articles.
They probably do so because they may need to optimize the space of the write-ups in every column. Another reason, their target audience could be mainly international readers where titles are not applicable outside Malaysia.
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| Mohd Khalil Yaacob Governor of Melaka |
Whatever reasons they have, not mentioning titles before the names of individuals might be seen unusual or against the normal practice. To worsen the situation, it might be seen disrespectful to the kings, sultans and the state governors.
Feedbacks from public could be another important reasons related to the issue. It has become open discussions especially in the social media where netizens were questioning the eligibility and credibility of certain individuals with titles in the country.
Apparently, there are too many Datuks, Datuk Seris and Tan Sris around that make them not much different from other ordinary people.
More and more Datuks, Datuk Seris and Tan Sris were seen wearing or not wearing MACC lock-up orange shirt being prosecuted for committing crime, such as corruption, criminal breach of trust, money laundering, power abuse and molesting girl below 18 years of age.
 |
| Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Sultan of Terengganu (from Zafiyah Hussain's photo compilation) |
At least, one of them was a member of a group of gangsters. Another young man with Datuk Seri title was found positive in the drug urine test after allegedly physically beating a Rela volunteer at a parking area. More unbelievable, one Datuk visited a night club only to drink Nescafe!
Artistes and entertainers are another segment of groups conferred awards which carried titles. It shows that this arts and entertainment group is well recognized for their contribution to the society. However, the contribution and talent of some of them in qualifying them for such prestigious titles were questionable.
Nevertheless, one should respect the prerogative of the kings, governors and their committees. It is up to them to confer to whom they feel necessary.
 |
| Abdul Taib Mahmud, Governor of Sarawak (left) and wife Ragad Walled Al Kurdi (from Zafiyah Hussain's photo compilation) |
This includes a beautiful and sexy female singer from Indonesia who was conferred a title of Dato' Sri recently. She wasn't really a popular entertaining singer compared to Hetty Koes Endang, Endang S Taurina, Emilia Contessa or at least Kris Dayanti who were among influential vocalists from Indonesia.
There were a number of veterans in the circle who had contributed significantly for the nation, but have yet to receive any kind of formal appreciation from the government.
It could be rumours that said honorific titles were available for sale. At the same time, it is important to remember that when rumours spread repeatedly, it can change people's perception.
 |
| P. Ramlee, Malaysian most legendary artiste (from Zafiyah Hussain's photo compilation) |
P. Ramlee, the most legendary artiste Malaysia has ever had, died on May 29, 1973 at the age of 44. The film maker, singer, actor, director, musìcian, songwriter, composer and producer was posthumously awarded honorific title Tan Sri in 1990, 17 years after his death. The title was conferred by then Yang Dipertuan Agong, Sultan Azlan Shah. P. Ramlee was also posthumously granted sobriquet Seniman Agung.
Honorific title is a gift and certainly not a request. It may turn otherwise when there are certain ambitious individuals who desperately need honorific titles for personal glory.
With titles, they would psychologically secure better impression for their companies profile and can expect VVIP treatment from the public and service oriented organizations. Most importantly, they believed that title would enhance one's personal image development.
 |
| Another Malaysian Superstar, Sudirman Haji Arshad, died on February 22, 1992 (age 37) conferred Datuk title 17 years later by Pahang Sultan |
Whether we like it or not, the "over supply" of datukship, datukseriship and tansriship in the market has slowly affected negatively the good image and the dignity of the titles themselves.
There is a possibility in future, started by media, followed by letters and correspondences, as well as master of ceremony's trending development in events and functions, the title before the name will no longer be mentioned.
When this really happens, the excitement to request or to "buy" titles will decline by itself as no one is mentioning them anymore.
By Fauzi Kadir
Permadu Harmony/Permadu Malaysia
All Rights Reserved
Copyright Fauzi Kadir 2018
All pictures compiled by
Zafiyah Hussain
Contact Us
+60 11 1185 9874 Whatsapp
E-mail to permadu@gmail.com
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