Government proposes five years jail for those using dubious “Datuk” titles

                              (Picture unrelated but just to show the Award Ceremony)

It is five years jail for anyone caught using dubious “Datuk” honorific titles bestowed by unrecognised leaders or Sultans like that of the Sulu Sultanate, under a new proposal from Putrajaya.

The five-year custodial sentence will be introduced under a new clause in the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963.

Thomas Su (DAP - Ipoh Timur) said the amendment is appropriate to ensure no one makes a mockery of bona fide titles issued by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the various state Sultans and governors.

"It will also discourage the public from being duped into paying thousands of ringgit to get a title," he told The Malaysian Insider.

However, he said Putrajaya should be clear on who are the self-proclaimed heads of state.

Council of Federal Datuks Malaysia president Datuk Danny Ooi acknowledged growing public concern over the bestowing of unrecognised titles over the past few years.

“It is not a new issue and it has become quite common for individuals using titles which are not recognised either by the federal or state governments,” he was quoted as saying in a recent news report.

The Star had on June 20 reported that Undang Luak Naning, a customary chieftain in Malacca, handed out scores of unrecognised Datukships and other titles to people who “contributed” to the Naning Territory.

Another self-proclaimed “Malacca-Perak Sultan” Ahmad Shah Raja Noor Jan Shah also awarded titles to more than 90 people.

These awards, carrying titles such as “Dato Seri”, “Dato”, “Datuk Paduka" and "Datuk Seri Paduka", are not recognised in the country.

Many of these dubious titles become public knowledge when the recipient's friends place advertisements in newspapers congratulating the recipients.