Stooping so low for high status is so wrong
THE question has to be asked: Why are people willing to pay up to thousands of ringgit each to be associated with an obscure non-governmental organisation?
Few of us have heard of Pertubuhan Kerabat Perdana Malaysia. That changed this week, when The Star ran reports on a syndicate that has been selling fake membership cards and car badges bearing the association’s logo.
The association has distanced itself from the syndicate’s activities and has gone to the police.
According to its president, Tunku Maulay Idris Hussain Tunku Faisal, the NGO was registered two years ago and was set up to help the needy. He said membership was by invitation only and that the members were those of royal lineage.
However, the syndicate has apparently hijacked the organisation, particularly to use its name and logo. To add to the confusion, there are two English versions of the NGO’s name – the Federation of Royal International KPM and the Federation of Royal International GKP.
The syndicate’s frontman is said to have collected money from several individuals as “registration fees” for membership in the NGO.
Tunku Maulay said the NGO had obtained details of receipts for transactions amounting to RM5,000 each. He also revealed that some luxury cars in the northern states had badges with the association’s logo, which at a glance, can pass off as a royal crest or a symbol for the uniformed services.
The police are investigating the matter and have urged victims of the syndicate to come forward.
But are those who have forked out money for the unauthorised memberships and car badges, really victims? Have they indeed been duped? That depends on what they thought they would get when they parted with their money.
The Star reported that the syndicate’s Facebook account claimed that those who signed up as members could get “favours” and “government assistance” as well as free training in handling firearms.
This suggests that those who have paid a lot for the membership cards and car badges may be more interested in an instant status boost, real or perceived, than in providing community service.
It is not wrong to seek a leg up in life, but if a person knowingly does it through dubious means and things subsequently go sour, he deserves neither sympathy nor leniency.
Under the Offences Relating to Awards Act, it is an offence to solicit, receive or agree to receive payment for arranging the grant of an award by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or the state Rulers. It is also an offence to give, promise or offer such a payment.
In other words, both sides are breaking the law.
There is a simple logic behind that – these awards are not meant to be bought and sold.
The same ought to apply in the NGO scam. Those who expect special treatment based on a hollow and cynical display of a logo cannot pretend to be innocent victims.