In a tizz over Datukship

This article is taken from The Sun newspaper, an article written by Terence Fernandez. I just edited a little bit so it is shorter and use lesser time to read it.

There are many restless hearts in Malaysia this week. They belong to community and business leaders, educationists, NGO reps and senior civil servants. The feeling is not being appreciated and being taken for granted.

This sentiment of dissatisfaction and as one of them put it - even betraytal emerged following the announcement of state honours on last Friday.

While there was no quarrel with many of those being bestowed awards by the Governor, one name has caused quite a ruffle aming senior Malaccans, compounding the beliefs of some, that awards and honorifics have become a joke.

Yes, dont be surprised if Bollywood movie posters and even opening credits in Malaysia featuring Shah Rukh Khan are ammended to include the word "Datuk" before the heartthrob's name.

Datuk Shah Rukh Khan???!!!!

It was reported that former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin had recommended the actor for the award. The rationale is that Shah Rukh's movies was shot in Malacca and hence "helped promote tourism"

You know what i think? Some Datin is a big fan of Shah Rukh and pestered her husband to push for his Datukship, so that she can get brownie points and be pally with him.

This syiok sendiri exercise of giving him a Datukship does injustice to Malaysians who are more deserving of recognition.

He probably doesnt think it is a big deal. He did not even show up for the investiture ceremony and they want to arrange for a special function to bestow him with the title.

So, someone has to foot an expensive bill to fly him down first class and provide accommodation fit for a star. I hope the expenses are not coming from the state coffers.

And has anyone bothered to explain to Shah Rukh what the title is all about? The fact that the title is called "Datuk" may give him the wrong impression: "Datuk"? "Grandfather huh?"

Let's get serious with this business of giving awards. Already the value of Datukships is suspect, no thanks to Tom, Dick and Harrys who make their ways to the honour list every year. While truly deserving ones are sidelined - deliberately or otherwise.

One should take the cue from His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor who is particular about the bestowing of honorifics after it was discovered a few years ago that several "Datuks" were triad leaders!!

Please, at the same time there are hundreds of Datuks and Tan Sris who truly deserve their honorifics. Surely, they would not want their titles to be sullied by having those with questionable credentials as members of what used to be a prestigous alumnus.