Tun, Tan Sri, Datuk Seri, Dato' Paduka, Datuk, Dato' and so on. So what?
Malaysia of today are full of dignitaries, civil servants and those who regard themselves as very important persons (VIP) carrying numerous kind of titles, ranging from Tun, Tan Sri, Datuk Seri, Dato' Paduka, Dato', Datuk right down to those with smaller titles.
Even when a title which is one step below to that of a Datuk or Dato', the Chinese community would address the person as "Chun Datuk" or some sort of "Datuk To Be" either in person or in newspapers. Sounds a bit funny and but creative, isn't it so?
But, what is the purpose of all these traditional and feudal titles? After all, we are now leaving in the modern world. Yes, we should admit that such traditional and feudal titles are historical and of heritage in kind, but does that mean that we should continue using it in front of our names or behind our names?
Such titles are thing of the past and we should not stick to it forever just because it is being awarded by the sultanates or governors or even the king.
And today, we all could see that such titles has been blatantly misused, misrepresented, misinterpreted and so on for the personal benefit of those who used it. Even those who had committed crimes or any other wrongdoing are carrying the title of Datuk, Datuk Seri or whatsoever. In some occasion, these Datukship are being sold by certain parties to those who would go all out to pay with a large sum of money in order to obtain such awards.
In certain cases, those who are not able to obtain the Datukship here in Malaysia would eventually turned to the "Sulu Sultanates" or some small sultanates in Indonesia in order to obtain those titles. It sounds some people are being overly crazy about such titles.
After obtaining these titles, you could see all those congratulatory messages coming out in newspapers in large numbers. So what? We are asking all those so-called "dignitaries", high profiled politicians and VIPs, if you got all those titles, so what? You will feel proud of it just because you names would become longer and your suits or uniforms would get heavier with all those medals, stars and sash hanging over your bodies?
With already too many people having such titles and awards nowadays, we strongly feel that the meaning of such awards had became irrelevant. Why? Because you could get them if you have the money today and if the quota in this country is finished, they could just go over to the Sulu island or Indonesia to get them for even at a cheaper rate.
We are not suggesting that such awards to be abolished in our country, but those titles or name callings should be abolished as they are all mere tradition and feudalistic. Why? Because such names are already history and there's no point to demonstrate such historical thoughts in today's modern society.
Just have those awards maintained would do. With only the medals or stars, then followed by a certificate, that's it. The recipient of those awards also need not put all those titles in front or at the back of his name. All those practices are now outdated.
Furthermore, the sultanates and governors also need not organize such occasions during their birthdays but instead choose to award it in any ceremonies they may deem fit to do so. Carry out those ceremonies in a modest way in order to preserve the public funds to its best usage.
Do it professionally instead of traditionally or in a tight protocol manner. Do not waste too much time and costs on such awards presentation ceremonies or whatsoever.
Even when a title which is one step below to that of a Datuk or Dato', the Chinese community would address the person as "Chun Datuk" or some sort of "Datuk To Be" either in person or in newspapers. Sounds a bit funny and but creative, isn't it so?
But, what is the purpose of all these traditional and feudal titles? After all, we are now leaving in the modern world. Yes, we should admit that such traditional and feudal titles are historical and of heritage in kind, but does that mean that we should continue using it in front of our names or behind our names?
Such titles are thing of the past and we should not stick to it forever just because it is being awarded by the sultanates or governors or even the king.
And today, we all could see that such titles has been blatantly misused, misrepresented, misinterpreted and so on for the personal benefit of those who used it. Even those who had committed crimes or any other wrongdoing are carrying the title of Datuk, Datuk Seri or whatsoever. In some occasion, these Datukship are being sold by certain parties to those who would go all out to pay with a large sum of money in order to obtain such awards.
In certain cases, those who are not able to obtain the Datukship here in Malaysia would eventually turned to the "Sulu Sultanates" or some small sultanates in Indonesia in order to obtain those titles. It sounds some people are being overly crazy about such titles.
After obtaining these titles, you could see all those congratulatory messages coming out in newspapers in large numbers. So what? We are asking all those so-called "dignitaries", high profiled politicians and VIPs, if you got all those titles, so what? You will feel proud of it just because you names would become longer and your suits or uniforms would get heavier with all those medals, stars and sash hanging over your bodies?
With already too many people having such titles and awards nowadays, we strongly feel that the meaning of such awards had became irrelevant. Why? Because you could get them if you have the money today and if the quota in this country is finished, they could just go over to the Sulu island or Indonesia to get them for even at a cheaper rate.
We are not suggesting that such awards to be abolished in our country, but those titles or name callings should be abolished as they are all mere tradition and feudalistic. Why? Because such names are already history and there's no point to demonstrate such historical thoughts in today's modern society.
Just have those awards maintained would do. With only the medals or stars, then followed by a certificate, that's it. The recipient of those awards also need not put all those titles in front or at the back of his name. All those practices are now outdated.
Furthermore, the sultanates and governors also need not organize such occasions during their birthdays but instead choose to award it in any ceremonies they may deem fit to do so. Carry out those ceremonies in a modest way in order to preserve the public funds to its best usage.
Do it professionally instead of traditionally or in a tight protocol manner. Do not waste too much time and costs on such awards presentation ceremonies or whatsoever.
