Recently Astro aired a documentary on Discovery Channel entitled 'Crossing', an autobiography of our infamous cartoonist Lat. It was very interesting and I enjoyed the programme very much.

Most of us know that Lat has contributed a lot to the nation through his art, and was conferred a datukship. However, I do not agree with the narrator's comment that the datukship title was equivalent to the knighthood award (which carries the title Sir). My humble opinion here is without malice and in no way intended to insult Datuk Lat or other VIPs.

I do not know very much about the knighthood award but I do know a few recipients of this award who has contributed a lot in their own industry, i.e Sir Sean Connery, Sir Cliff Richard and Sir Paul McCartney. On the other hand, any Ahmad, Ah Kow and Muthu in Malaysia who are either cronies to VIPs or has a lot of cash to spare or broke a record feat or even an underworld triad gangster can easily "buy" a datukship. How can one compare it to a knighthood?