Suspicious Datukships, fake Tan Sri titles: Imposters among us

AN association for individuals who were awarded Datukships is trying to weed out fakes in their midsts.

For months, the Council of Datuk Dato’ Malaysia (MDDM, for Majlis Datuk Dato’ Malaysia) has received reports of Malaysians who blatantly use fake or unrecognised titles to boost their image and business here.

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The latest case is a fake Datukship ring smashed by the police, with Melaka police completing investigations into 30 individuals using fake honorary titles conferred by unrecognised sultanates.

Calling themselves “Datuk”, “Datuk Seri” and “Datuk Panglima’’, the individuals allegedly used the fake titles to solicit business or seek favours from the authorities, said a report on Tuesday.

Frustrated by the number of self-proclaimed Datuks, the MDDM is creating a database of individuals with legally recognised titles in Malaysia.

Registered by the Registrar of Societies on May 4, 2021, the MDDM consists of genuine recipients of Datuk and Dato’ honorifics as listed at www.istiadat.gov.my, the website of the Prime Minister’s Department’s ceremonial and international conference secretariat division.

The association comprises recipients of Datukships at both federal and state levels, bestowed by the Yang diPertuan Agong, state Rulers and Governors. This differs from the Council of Federal Datuks in Malaysia, which comprises recipients of the Pingat Jasa Negara and Panglima Setia DiRaja bestowed by the King.

While the public can visit www.istiadat.gov.my, the MDDM’s database has more details, like the recipient’s photograph so that people can match the name to the person.

MDDM founding member and secretary-general Datuk Samson David Maman says the association vets members very stringently.

“Several layers of checks are done, including with the Insolvency Department to confirm that the individual is not bankrupt.

“After being vetted, members will be able to obtain a car crest and be given a unique serial number in the database, as well as a membership card.

“Members will also be able to display a car badge with a QR code, whereby if you scan it, it will direct you to our database so you can identify the person,” explains Samson.

The MDDM has 162 members and counting on its list at mddm.org.my.

Samson says the MDDM was shocked to learn recently of cases of fake Tan Sri titles being sold to individuals, with fake medals and documents sent out for a fee of about RM300,000. For fake Datukships, the price tag is around RM150,000.

Scammers approach individuals and offer titles for these amounts, going to great lengths by creating fake websites to show the individual’s name sandwiched between other prominent recipients so that people believe the title is genuine.

“The scammers tell victims that the ceremony cannot be held in person yet due to no available date so far. Hence, the award is sent through a courier service and the scammers say the individual will be notified when the King or state ruler is available.

“However, presenting the award through the mail is already a red flag,” Samson says.

In one case, the victim received the award through the mail. Two days later, there was an official announcement of award recipients but his name was not there.

The scammers usually disappear after the fake awards are delivered.

Then there are people who go in search of titles to purchase, paying large amounts of money for convincing details.

“Some receive doctored photographs of an investiture ceremony, with their images edited with the King or state rulers presenting them with the award,” Samson says.

He believes every nation takes pride in its honorifics but irresponsible parties have made a living out of the gullibility of others by selling fake titles.

“This tarnishes the image of those who have genuine awards in Malaysia.

“Many with fake titles are also involved in crimes, using their titles to scam victims.

“The MDDM will pursue these fakes relentlessly because they bring shame to the country,” he says.

What the law says

There are many cases of Malaysians receiving awards from foreign entities like the Sulu and Mindanao provinces in the Philippines and Palembang City in Indo-nesia. However, recipients of such foreign awarded titles are not allowed to use them within Malaysia, says Samson.

Under the Offences Relating to Awards Act 2017, a Malaysian citizen may only receive a foreign award from a head of state listed in the law, such as the presidents of Indonesia and the Philippines.

A citizen must also receive written permission from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong before receiving any foreign award. The recipients cannot use the title from the foreign award within Malaysia. It becomes an offence if a person fails to get written permission from the King or uses the foreign title in Malaysia – one can be fined up to RM500,000 under the Act.

While some blatantly use these titles for their own agenda, Samson says there are times when recipients are simply unaware of the law.

“They think such awards are on par with the Datukships awarded in Malaysia. But they are not supposed to use them here,” he says.

A stiffer penalty of a maximum of three years’ jail awaits those who use fake or unrecognised awards, regardless if they are from Malaysia or abroad. As the Act was gazetted in 2017, it means that anyone who used an unrecognised title before 2017 must stop using it or they will be committing a crime now.

“Our law only recognises awards conferred by the King, our Sultans and state Governors,” reiterates Samson.

Also, those who make fake awards, including medals, ribbons and badges, face a fine of up to RM10,000, three years’ jail, or both.

But the most serious punishment is for those involved in the buying and selling of titles. Under the Act, it’s a crime to solicit, receive or give gratification to obtain awards, regardless if the award is unrecognised or legitimate. The punishment for this is a maximum of 20 years in jail.

“The exchange of money to promote or secure through gratification an honorific title is unlawful.

“This is where most offences occur these days with the lure and glitter of a Tan Sri or Datuk award and the gullibility of individuals exposed,” says Samson.

Dubious titles

Despite public sentiment that there are too many people with titles in Malaysia, MDDM vice-president Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai says such titles are still prized by many as they bring honour and can open doors to opportunities.

“But I do get suspicious when I meet people who call themselves ‘Tan Sri Datuk Dr’ but have pictures of themselves wearing a sash and uniform that don’t belong to any royal house,” he says.

Wong (who is Star Media Group Bhd’s Group Advisor) also shares that he received information and pictures of an entire family where the “father, mother, sons and daughters” are all “Datuk Dr”, and felt that something was amiss.

“They must be the most titled family I’ve encountered,” he quips.

Wong lauded Selangor for having a website where the public can verify whether the person is rightly a Selangor Datuk at awards.selangor.gov.my.

“If someone uses a Datuk or Tan Sri honorific and it is fake, the person should be charged for impersonation. Or, in short, they would be acting like an imposter and a cheat,” he adds.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong has received around seven complaints involving fake Datukships over the past two years.

“Most come to me because they want their money back after paying the fraudsters,” says Chong, who is also an MDDM executive committee member.

Through his experience, he says most who use fake titles have the intention to cheat others with it – “It is either to scam or show off,” Chong says.

He has heard of “Datuk Seri” titles being sold for between RM100,000 and RM120,000, with the scammer even accepting payment in instalments.

“Some sell Datukships for RM60,000 to RM100,000,” he recalls.

Chong advises those who want such titles against buying them as it is shameful to procure something that isn’t real.