YOURSAY | Revoke datukship of those who break the law

YOURSAY | ‘Honorific titles in M’sia becoming subjects of ridicule, rather than honour and respect.’

'Datuk' apologises over hotpot assault, hopes matter can be put to rest

IndigoKite6964: State and national titles are meant to be bestowed on people who are examples of what a Malaysian should be, the creme de la creme among the citizens of this country.

This and recent events cause me to hang my head low as we object to and reject these people as examples of who we are and who we should be.

Whereas the sultans have the priorities as to who to honour, they should also exercise their priority on who they should disgrace. They have, in the past, asked for returns of titles given by them but not all. The most notable exception is the Pekan MP, a convict awaiting his appeal.

How to forgive this datuk and put the matter at rest? I would begin to consider it if he gives up his datukship and compensates the couple he hurt and humiliated.

I am especially aghast by the manhandling of a woman by this man. Not only is it ungentlemanly, but it is also below my standard of what a man should be, let alone that of a datuk.

My advice to this man is to show real remorse. The higher you go, the harder you fall. Give up your datukship and make amends. The request to put the matter at rest should come from the victims and not the aggressor.

6th Generation Immigrant: This is not an apology when it is scripted in a (legally?) prepared text to be read out.

Instead of taking and accepting full responsibilities for the despicable, heinous and arrogant act of his, he has merely transferred all the blame for that evening by saying "I feel very regretful about my out-of-control actions, and at that time, my friend and I were drunk".

The drinking of alcohol can never be a shield to protect unruly or out of control drunkards. After all, drunkards can always be arrested for simple unruliness, which is very much a minor offence when compared to one being arrogant and towering over the defenceless.

He even allocated mild blame on his friend, and that was also due to his friend being drunk. He is a bully and must be punished severely (despite his attempt of a formal apology).

Apanakdikato: Honorific titles in Malaysia such as ‘datuk’ and ‘tan sri’ carry no value. Period.

Criminals and kleptocrats are given such titles because of their wealth (regardless of the source of their wealth) and not because of their integrity and contribution to the rakyat. One can ‘purchase’ such titles with the right connections.

People who think that they will be respected by having such titles actually make themselves very small. It is time for a paradigm change in Malaysia and do away with such titles.

Many of the most highly respected people in the world, such as the late Lee Kuan Yew, are only addressed as a 'Mr' (mister). It is the personality that carries the weight, not the title.

The violent and criminal behaviour of ‘Datuk Tan’ should not go unpunished by the law. The honorific titles in Malaysia are becoming subjects of ridicule, rather than honour and respect.

Tan Kim Keong: In his apology video, the first thing that came out of his mouth was introducing and addressing himself as 'Datuk Tan'. Can you believe that? It looks like he still takes pride in having the title.

If he was sincere and remorseful, he would have just introduced himself as Tan and should have said he was too ashamed to call himself a datuk because of his egregious behaviour.

Hence, he was anything but sincere and remorseful. His datukship must be stripped and hopefully already done by now by the royal house that bestowed the title upon him.

Shibboleth: An apology must have three components.

First, there must be an unreserved acknowledgement of one's wrongdoing. Second, there must be contrition and deep regret. Finally, an offer to compensate, remedy and an unconditional written undertaking never to lose control again.

Do you see all these components when this ‘datuk’ read out the prepared text? Just a thought, had the incident not caught on video, do you think he would have apologised?

"A short and strong man without ethics is a bandit," says Confucius.

Sphzxcv: An apology isn't enough as it was an assault. The maximum sentence must be meted out and his datukship title revoked.

The royals must make it a condition that should any person who has been bestowed such titles will have their titles revoked should he/she be found guilty of unbecoming behaviour.

There have been too many of these ‘datuks’ assaulting the common people. The courts must give the severest of punishments to show that nobody is above the law.

The Middle Man: Yes, the heinous and despicable act of violence committed by this person and his friend should be punished by a stiff jail term (if found guilty).

Their unruly and uncouth behaviour and actions cannot be forgiven nor tolerated. This message must be a wake-up call for all those who think they are above the law because of their positions, status or wealth.

Revoke his datukship as he has tarnished the respect and recognition accorded to the title. This should be an automatic punishment for all who hold such honorific status if they commit such acts of violence.

The victims should sue these two individuals for the violence, hurt and injuries inflicted upon them. No parents in their right mind would tolerate such violent acts on their children.

WhiteQuokka4162: When I was young, I was told by my elders that only after you had contributed many, many years of service that benefit the society/country, you will be awarded a datuk or some other title.

You may also be awarded a title if you achieved something extraordinary, such as being nominated a Nobel prize.

Nowadays, there are datuks everywhere, and they are getting younger and younger.

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