COMMENT | After three Rela (People’s Volunteer Corps) members were allegedly assaulted by a 29-year-old businessman with a “datuk seri” title on Oct 27, the spotlight has turned on the awarding of such honorifics by rulers and heads of state.

It has been quite a while since this issue has generated so much public interest. If there is anything positive to emerge from this unfortunate and nasty incident, it must be the clear message to those holding such titles that they are not above the law. They must behave responsibly and with decorum in public and respect others like everybody else.

Rulers, heads of states, and others entrusted or empowered with awarding such titles must surely now be more wary of the “worthiness” of those being honoured. If there can be one positive resulting from the assault case, a clear qualifying criteria is absolutely necessary.

So the Kedah royal house has denied that the state awarded the “datuk seri” title to the businessman concerned. Why did the state issue the denial? Because the Kedah sultan wanted to make it clear that he does not award state honours to shady characters, and certainly not to the 29-year-old man.

Now, we’re left to wonder which state awarded the “datuk seri” title to the individual with a chequered past. Besides being charged with the assault of the Rela trio, he was also arrested in relation to a past drug offence.

Well, no other sultans or governors, except Kedah, have responded to public calls to strip the illustrious title from the individual concerned yet. So, we just have to wait and see.

Then, we heard Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (photo) issuing a stern warning to those bestowed with titles that the law spares no one. A timely reminder indeed.

Now, this proposal from Gerakan Youth makes sense to me. They adopted a resolution at its convention over the weekend proposing that the federal government enact laws to prevent abuse of the "datuk" title and other similar awards.

Yes, why not? What about doubling the punishment for datuks involved in criminal offences, or parading them in public to shame them after they have been sentenced in a court of law?

Sound ridiculous? Maybe, but that would surely halt the long queue at the palace gates for recommendation of state awards whenever a ruler’s birthday approaches.

It will most certainly stop people, particularly dubious characters, from attempting to buy awards and titles too. Peddlers for such honours will also have to pack up their “business,” as no one will want to tempt fate with the law by being a datuk.

Indeed, it’s time for us to acknowledge that this “datukships for sale” is for real, even if it embarrasses the government or those empowered in awarding the titles.

Ask former foreign minister Rais Yatim. Several years ago, he was the first cabinet member (and remains the only one) to publicly allege that people were buying state titles from the rulers.

No one denied this – not a squeak was heard from any of the royal households or the governors’ offices. In this case, the people’s perception is that silence equals the truth, making his claim believable.

And here is another fact. Malaysian society has become very status conscious, so much so that some would resort to unscrupulous means, including dishing out millions in bribes, just for an ego-boosting title.

How low would Malaysians stoop just to get an additional “datuk” in front of their names? To them, “datuk” probably sounds better than their own family-given names. Many will insist that they are addressed as “datuk” in public.

With the passage of time, no one will remember their real names – they become nameless datuks without realising it. What a crying shame, really!

After being awarded the datukship, they would ensure that their friends insert congratulatory messages in newspapers in order to let the whole world know their “achievements.” In all likelihood, these datuks are the ones paying huge sums to advertise and congratulate themselves.

Later, they must surely and proudly place the official crest on their luxurious vehicles and drive around with their heads held high, so as to get the same ego boost in public.

Why must we take shortcuts to be acknowledged as somebody important? Those who have attained notable achievements, have made immense social contributions, or are leaders in their professions or respective fields of expertise do not have to buy recognition. These are the genuine and deserving recipients of awards and honours from the government and rulers.

Of late, Malaysians must be very happy to learn that the Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar (photo) has put his foot down on what he described as “a shameful and despicable deal in the purchase of titles.”

He revealed how a businessman attempted to offer him RM2 million for a “tan sri” title. Disgusted with the bribe offer, the sultan lodged a report with the police and MACC.

The ruler also warned the public not to corrupt members of the Johor royal household and palace officials, declaring that corruption will never be tolerated in his state.

Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah is another ruler who has also stepped up on the issue. It is said that the sultan, of late, has insisted that recipients of Selangor honours must pass three stringent vetting processes – MACC, police and the Insolvency Department.

On his 71st birthday, Sultan Sharafuddin only bestowed the state’s highest honours on 25 outstanding individuals, out of more than 600 nominations. This is keeping in line with the sultan’s highest standards.

The two rulers deserve our accolades for taking note of the public outcry over this datuk ridiculousness and acting swiftly on the matter.

So, are you still salivating to be a datuk? In case you haven’t heard, or are pretending not to know, many datuks have been charged for corruption, money laundering, organised crime, gangland murders, online scams and drug-related offences.

And the latest, a “datuk seri” was arrested for alleged involvement in a baby-for-sale syndicate. There could be many other criminal offences as well, but I’m sure you’re able to catch my drift.

These datuks are a public embarrassment and they shame the esteemed datuk fraternity, dishonour the rulers or governors who conferred the titles on them, and bring disrepute to the nation and people.

If you are still keen to be a datuk, let me advise you to look into the mirror and ask yourself whether your personal integrity, moral character and public behaviour are able to carry the heavy load expected of a respected datuk.

If not, don’t even think about it.

Please don’t sully the reputation of other deserving recipients of the datukship and render the award cheap and meaningless.

FRANCIS PAUL SIAH heads the Movement for Change Sarawak (MoCS) and can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.