Gerakan Youth moot age limit for Datukship

Gerakan Youth has suggested for the Datukship and other higher titles to be limited to those 40 years old and above following the recent high-profile assault case involving a 29-year-old "Datuk Seri".

The businessperson had been charged with assault of three People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) members as well as a charge related to a past drug-related offence.

“In the height of the recent assault on the Rela members and previous high profile incident involving young ‘Datuk’, Gerakan Youth propose a minimum age of 40 years old and above be set as criteria for Datukship or above titles from the federal and state level.

“Gerakan Youth also urge each institution to also set out a clear qualifying criteria and list the full contributions of the recipient of such titles subject to the ruler’s sole prerogative in special circumstances,” read the resolution which was passed by the youth wing at the party’s Youth National Delegates convention today at the PGRM Tower in Kuala Lumpur.

The resolution also proposed for the federal government to enact laws to prevent abuse of the "Datuk" title and other similar titles awarded by the country.

Gerakan Youth also wanted the government to act against individuals who are directly or indirectly involved in the scam related to the abuse of titles, including dubious recipients and fake "Datuk".

The "Datuk Seri" in the Rela assault case, Liow Soon Hee (photo), was slapped with four charges related to assaulting three Rela members while they were carrying out their duties at a temple in Kampung Baru Ampang on Oct 27.

Liow’s first charge was on voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Lee Weng Poh, 27, under Section 325 of the Penal, which carries a jail term of up to seven years and a fine, if convicted.

His second charge was for intentionally assaulting a public servant, Melvin Cheong Mun Khai, 21, under Section 353 of the same code, which could earn him up to two years’ jail or fine or both, if convicted.

For the third and fourth charges, Liow was alleged to have voluntarily caused hurt to Leong Jun Jie, 21, and Melvin under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of one year, or a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, upon conviction.

Shortly after he posted bail on these charges, Liow was rearrested by an anti-narcotics team in connection with a past drug case. He was later charged under Section 15(1)(A) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

According to the charge sheet, Liow’s urine was tested positive for methamphetamine while in detention at the Dang Wangi district police station on Feb 1, 2014.- Mkini