On Nov 14 2003, Rais Yatim said it was common knowledge that datukships (in some states) could be bought, a state of affairs even the PM described as ‘very embarrassing’. Many businessmen pay for datukship not only for themselves but your companies’ runners so that they would find it harder to resign!

Intermediaries had also been charged in court with cheating businessmen of payment meant to get the latter’s an award that somehow failed to be awarded.

We also know of the arrests of some datuks for criminal activities and corporate fraud, in some cases their title withdrawn. People below 30s also had been awarded datukship raising question as to what they could have possibly contributed to society.

Now a Bollywood Star (not even a national) for his contribution to the entertainment industry at international level when he acted in a movie filmed in Malaysia.

So why not Sean Connery, Catherine Zeta Jones, Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat? Maybe unlike Shah Rukh Khan they are really not interested in receiving such a title.

The conferral of titles and honorifics is an integral part of the feudal political culture and patronage system that is alive and kicking here – whatever the motives, laudable or demeaning behind such conferrals.

Isn’t it a right on the part of our feudal lords to bestow on whom they are pleased with – so why should we ordinary rakyat complain?

If they want to “sendiri shiok” it is no beef on my back.

There is sense in what Cinapek posted Today at 15: 31.54 , “YB, don’t waste your breadth and your energy on nondescript matter such as these. Let them demean the value of the datukship they are conferring. If in their eyes every tom, dick and harry is worthy, so be it”.

Even Tun Dr Mahathir mentioned that one of the problems with titles in Malaysia is the numbers given out. He stated in an interview “Personally, I feel if you want to give value to anything, it must be limited…if you produce a million Ferrari cars, nobody will care about buying a Ferrari.”

Maybe our YB is a wee worried just in case he is being conferred a title, as rumoured….

Meanwhile the real ‘knight’ of Malaysian society – Glocal Malay – is presently in Kamunting having a sojourn in KL to defend a sedition charge brought by the State. The emblem of true honour is having entered the gates of Kamunting in defence of the Malaysian Cause!

At least this much you have to give credit to PM’s SIL Khairy Jamaluddin presently in a battle for the Umno Youth chief’s post with Mukhriz Mahathir. He is not a Datuk. You think he can’t get meh if he wanted? Ghafar Baba & Daim also shunned honorifics until they were ultimately conferred Tunship, which in today’s feudal society, is the coveted title.