Datuks: A case of all that glitters is not gold
| Tunku Aziz, one of the prime movers in setting up Transparency International Malaysia, in happier times was regarded by Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi as "one man (who) was able to harness his personal passion and deep commitment to the values of ethics and integrity, give it a larger purpose and meaning, and turn it into a force to transform society for the better." Why then was he left out of the MACC Advisory Group? He is regarded as being too outspoken for comfort and, therefore, difficult to handle. |
No, I am not envious of other people’s good fortune, but it is something I will never understand. There are obviously many things I don’t understand that I will probably take with me to my final resting place, wherever that might be.
I am referring to the pathologically maniacal lust, a word used advisedly, for a bit of apparently socially sexy trinket that seems to have taken a firm grip on the imagination of countless of our psychologically and mentally insecure citizens, from all walks of life.
Many go to great lengths to transform their otherwise mundane station in life by the simple expedient of entering into a dubious financial arrangement with some of our royal palaces to have honours conferred upon them at specially arranged investitures that are paid for from public funds.
The whole award process is shrouded in royal mystery, and members of the public are kept completely in the dark as to the reason why those “ennobled” are being invested with this and that order of the realm. In a more open and transparent society, which ours is patently not, awards are dished out for specific contributions to the arts, the sciences, sports, exemplary public service, and voluntary work, among a long list of good deeds performed for the general good and well-being of the community.
Here in Malaysia, one often wonders what the recipients of these honours, some in their twenties and wet behind the ears, have done to deserve them. And when one sees thuggish scrap metal merchants, lying second-hand car salesmen, and other unlikely types being dignified by a state ruler doing his obviously much practised straight face routine of pinning little trinkets on these notables, one does feel a little sorry that a ruler has to stoop so low, figuratively speaking, throwing his self-worth, his fidelity to principles and majesty to the winds, all for a small financial consideration. That is the general perception, and no law can prevent what people are thinking.
There is this unfortunate but widespread perception that sums of money change hands. And naturally, I do not subscribe to all these innuendos as a loyal subject, in the absence of concrete proof that this sordid practice is firmly entrenched in some of our royal households.
However, I share the view of many that at least some 80 per cent of our assorted datuks of all hues, have paid in full for their regalia, complete with the sash and medal. I am told that no instalments are entertained. I don’t blame the royals for their distrust of their clients when they look at whom they are dealing with. I have learnt from firsthand experience that although perceptions may not have any basis in fact, they are real, and we ignore them at our peril.
I have no idea what we pay our rulers to perform their Constitutional duties as part of our brand of democracy, but it does appear that in the case of a few of our rulers, we may be short-changing them. But then what is enough to support profligacy. Just as we deserve the unsavoury politicians we get, so too we deserve the royals who still think they reign over us and expect us, the Malays in particular, to perform complex rituals of obeisance in their presence. That many of them behave abysmally in moral and ethical terms is something we are expected to ignore with equanimity in the name of loyalty to our sovereign.
I am talking about the few royal black sheep that are the bane of our lives and who give the generally revered institution of Malay royalty that musty, bad odour. So, as far as I am concerned, it is not my intention to cause disaffection to our rulers, but merely to remind them, as any responsible citizen, that they have an ethical obligation to set an example of probity that we can look up to.
I cannot obviously name the rotten apples for obvious reasons, but this is really a case of “if the cap fits”, please wear it with my compliments. Some may accuse me of savaging our royals, but, quite frankly, after Mahathir’s wonton destruction that not only stripped them naked of their immunity but also their dignity, there is not much left of them for me to savage with advantage. Anyway, I have better breeding than to kick people in the groin when they are flat on their backs.
To protect what is still left of our residual respect for the dignity of their office, royal palaces should stop the practice of bestowing title-carrying awards, except on those who have traditional functional responsibilities such as menteris besar and senior courtiers. Citizens who have rendered exceptional service to a state or nation should be recognised and honoured by giving them state or federal medals, appropriately graded. Datuks should have their titles taken back and, in exchange, issued with special medals. In this way, we will put an end to a practice that is a sham and blight on the integrity of our nation. I do not always think well of some of the things they do in Australia, but I like their practice of dispensing with titles. No more lords and knights of the realm for them. Good on ‘yer, mate.
In our system, state titles are either bought or otherwise obtained on the recommendations of political parties. The system by its very nature spawns corruption and deceitfulness as many of these datuks are not above buying fake doctoral degrees to cover up the paucity of their grey matter. It seems that claiming to be what you are not has become respectable. When I was president of the Royal Selangor Club, I came across members who claimed to be datuks and doctors of philosophy and in one instance, the datuk in question had to be asked to leave. There was a more serious case after my term of office of a datuk whose claim to being one with a Harvard University degree to boot was exposed and had to be turfed out. These sad characters were not even under the influence of liquor when they applied for membership. We are the products of our environment and when that environment is morally and ethically polluted by corruption, the nation’s standing suffers. Would I consider an award if one was offered? I am happy without one. You are judged by the company you keep.
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Great article. Just too many datuk or idiots around our society, they look so similar.
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Krishna · 1 hour ago
Accused of savaging the Royals? Tunku that charge is going to be mild. I can see a few hundred reports being made accusing you of sedition and the police (who have nothing better to do) gleefully rubbing their hands and waiting to question you.
With all the unsavoury characters being conferred with all kinds of variable datukship, why would any honourable man want one.? There is more honour in being a non-datuk.
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Yuen James · 1 hour ago
if these taliban become leaders of these country..,these dato s tan sri ..and tuns will be the 1st to be shot as they did to those under pol pot ! no worries...we have many rivers around banting ! lol
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