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No more ‘datuk’, how about ‘saudara’ instead?

COMMENT | There has been some debate of late over whether elected representatives should receive honorifics like ‘datuk’ or ‘datuk seri’, or even whether elected representatives should be addressed as ‘yang berhormat’.

Speaking as an individual who staunchly supports egalitarianism, I say the feudal practice of awarding titles should stop. But in reality, is this going to happen? I very much doubt it.

In which case, MPs and state assemblypersons should heed the suggestion made by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who called the BN-inherited culture unhealthy. They should take it upon themselves to decline the titles when awarded.

The BN way

Understandably, in our society which has become so divided in multiple ways, including in terms of status, holding an honorific like ‘datuk’ or ‘datuk seri’ can be a boon.

It accords the holder the illusion of grandeur, which often does translate into the gaining of superficial respect and special treatment from obsequious grovelers, minions and the feudal-minded. Therefore, accepting such an award can be too tempting to resist.

But resist they should. Because some ruling or tacit understanding of a moratorium on titles from all award-bestowing institutions is unlikely to come to pass, it remains incumbent upon elected representatives to decline these titles on their own accord.

After all, it makes no sense for them to accept titles just because, as in the recent examples of DAP lawmakers in Malacca and Sabah, they have been made ministers, deputy ministers or excos. That was the BN way.

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