‘Revoke honorific titles of those charged with crimes’
KUALA LUMPUR: People with the honorific titles “Datuk” or “Datuk Seri” who have been implicated or charged with criminal offences should be stripped of their titles.
Council of Federal Datuks (MDPM) president Tan Sri Danny Ooi said the recent incident where a person with the title “Datuk Seri” had allegedly assaulted three People’s Volunteer Corp (Rela) members should not have happened.
He said the Datuk Seri should be stripped of his title.
“A person of his standing should not be treating uniformed personnel in such a manner.
“Take away his title, whether he is a Tan Sri or Datuk Seri. He should not be acting that way,” he said at the MDPM 15th Anniversary Charity Dinner here yesterday.
Ooi said the man in question was not an MPDM member, as the council members were conferred with the titles by the king.
He clarified that MDPM members were conferred with either Panglima Jasa Negara or Panglima Setia-Raja by the Yang-diPertuan Agong, while Datuk with federal-conferred titles could become associate members.
He said the council welcomed the recent passing of the new Awards Act 2017 and the Emblems and Names (Amendment) Act 2016, which came into effect last week.
“The act is timely. We are pleased as we have been trying to curb fake titles and awards. We have made an appointment with the police to discuss how to enforce the law,” Ooi said.
He said the council was considering setting up a hotline to enable the public to report cases of fake Datuk to assist police in their investigations.
He said the public could check www.istiadat.gov.my for the list of federal and state awards.
“It is important that MDPM plays a role in curbing the problem of fake titles and awards. We have to uphold the trust placed upon us by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. We also have to play our part in giving back to society.”
Also present at event was Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who received a RM30,000 contribution from MDPM made out to charity homes Rumah Charis, Persatuan Kebajikan Anak kepada Pesakit HIV/Aids Nurul Iman Malaysia (Pernim), Pertubuhan Kebajikan Astana Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Agathians Shelter and Rumah Titian Kaseh.
Last week, the Dewan Rakyat heard that under the Emblems and Names (Amendment) Act 2016, the offender can face a fine of RM20,000 or imprisonment not exceeding three years or both, compared with a fine of just RM1,000 prior to the amendment.
For the Awards Act 2017, those found guilty of soliciting awards or found trying to sell fake awards can face up to 20 years in jail.
Under the Offences Relating to Awards Act (Act 787), those found guilty of falsely claiming to be conferred a title by the YangdiPertuan Agong can be sentenced up to three years in jail.