It is not really a great time for the titled these days. Too many Datuks, Datuk Seris, Tan Sris and even Tuns are being noticed for the wrong reasons.
Never a day goes by, it seems, that we don’t have some with honorific titles being caught in the some sort of pickle — from breach of trust to slander and deceit, all the way to murder.
They have moved from the gossip columns of old when a Datuk, perhaps, was courting a young, nubile, up and coming artiste. It was rather exciting, the whiff of scandal, and harmless fun, too, for us readers.
In the days before social media, they are unnamed and forever mysterious. Presumably well-connected, with significant positions or responsibilities, and, perhaps, with money, too.
They are often identified by their initials — Datuk A, Datuk B... — and at a time when there were fewer of them, curious glances and whispers would follow those sharing the same letters.
These days, reports have pictures of suspects with towels over their heads, bowed, their hands cuffed, called in to “assist” some investigation. These titled folks have moved to the front pages, from the scandal sheets at the back.
The press, too, is lapping it up, these stories of Datuks gone bad. With reports suggesting something like “A Datuk Seri expected to be charged...” See, the whiff of scandal still works. Reports of a Datuk embezzling millions, for instance, have more zest than that one not bestowed any title.
If then they were reported to be caught with their pants down, now they have their hands in the cookie jar, or worse.
The philosophical question would be did they become bad after getting their titles, or did the titles emboldened them.
I believe, in most cases, it is just a coincidence as people with opportunities to do bad tend to be key persons in their organisations, which these days, would put them in line for some awards. Presumably, those with such inclination, would have probably gone rogue regardless.
Now, there must be tens of thousands of those accorded honorific titles, with hundreds joining the rank every year at birthdays of sultans, governors and the king.
They would be honoured presumably because of their contributions — either by them personally or the organisations they lead — to the state or country.
It is a great privilege, of course, to be honoured by your sultan or king, for instance, as it is a recognition for the individual or his organisation. Now, whether someone is deserving of a title is perhaps a subject for another day.
Like many countries, medals and honorific titles are awarded to senior government officials, business leaders, politicians, individuals with key positions in public and private offices, sports and entertainment personalities, as well as the catch-all category of “noted individuals”.
Some people crave it and would do quite a bit to get one for they believe there are advantages to having one.
However, I could think of a major disadvantage in that one quickly loses his identity, as he is now a Datuk or a Datin Seri or a Tan Sri. His name rarely matters.
The oft-repeated phrase that if you throw a stone, you are likely to hit one, is at least true at some organisations. I would also think that if someone were to call out “Datuk” for a lark at a few private clubs, a few heads would turn.
I have known people who, in the hope of not offending anyone, address just about anyone they see fitting the profile of a titled individual, as “Datuk”.
The little downside to this is that they could be addressing someone with a higher honorific title.
Yet, there are individuals who would not correct someone addressing them as such even when they are not. Maybe they are working on getting one.
Despite what many say, and in spite of some shine being taken off the awards due to these rogue titled individuals, I believe this love affair with honorific titles will continue for some time yet.
Zainul Arifin, a former NST group managing editor, is now a social media observer