Cops: Fake title users beware

We will not tolerate forged honorific awards, says Selangor police chief

PETALING JAYA: Stern action awaits those who use fake honorific titles in Selangor, says the state’s top cop.

Vowing to come down hard on those posing as a Datuk or Datuk Seri, Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Mazlan Mansor (pic) said the offence is tantamount to insulting the royal institution.

“We have cases of individuals using these fake titles and even one who went so far as to use a fake letter supposedly issued by the Selangor Palace.

“We will not tolerate such blatant disregard for the law and the royal institution,” he said in an interview yesterday.

The latest case involved a 64-year-old man who was detained last month in connection with a fake offer letter for the Darjah dan Bintang Kebesaran Negeri Selangor award which carries the honorific title Datuk, and posing as Selangor Council of the Royal Court secretary.

“We have already wrapped up the case. We are waiting for a decision from the Attorney-General’s Chambers on the matter,” Comm Mazlan said.

Police have proposed that the suspect be charged under Section 471 of the Penal Code for using a forged document, which carries a jail sentence of up to two years or a fine or both upon conviction, as well as Section 4a of the Selangor State Enactment, which carries a fine of up to RM500,000 or up to five years’ imprisonment or both upon conviction.

It is learnt the state enactment was amended by Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah in 2016 to ensure that proper punishment was imposed on those who use fake honorific titles.

Comm Mazlan said there were also cases where those with fake titles challenged and even tried to intimidate the police.

“A married couple in Klang claimed to be a Datuk Seri and Datin Seri when stopped in Klang for a traffic violation.

“Upon checking, we discovered that they were merely sundry shop owners who used the ‘titles’ to get their way whenever confronted by authorities,” he said.

Underworld elements have also used fake titles to boost recruitment for new members, he added.

“We are very serious about coming down hard on all these dodgy elements in the state.

“As you can see, the offence and its punishment are very serious, so I hope the public will not get involved in such crimes.

“We are heeding the call of the Sultan, who does not want anyone to insult the royal institution by using or selling fake titles,” he said.

Those who still disregard the warning will face the full force of the law, Comm Mazlan said.