PETALING JAYA: The Council of Dato and Datuk Malaysia (MDDM) have lodged police reports against nine people for using fake "Datuk", "Datuk Seri" and "Tan Sri" titles.
Its secretary-general Datuk Samson Mamon said the nine reports were lodged against individuals, who are in the corporate and entertainment sectors, business personalities as well as high-profile members of non-governmental organisations.
Samson said they had also come across a whole family using fake and unrecognised titles.
“Everyone in the family had Datukships, and none of them were legal," he said.
He added that the council also found that individuals had been using their fake Datukships in their honorifics when appearing on talk shows and giving advice to the public.
"From what we have checked, it was found that their status was fake,” he told reporters outside the Puchong Jaya police station on Monday (May 1).
He said the MDDM also noted the existence of many personalities listing their dubious Datuk and Tan Sri credentials in their Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) and Registrar of Societies (ROS) records to enhance their corporate status.
“Many cases are reported to us from people who get approached by those with fake and unrecognised awards,” he said.
He said the general public should always double check the official government portal at www.istiadat.gov.my to verify the authenticity of someone claiming to be a Datuk.
“We (MDDM) want to make it clear that we are not an enforcement body but want to create awareness that it is an offense for anyone to claim to be a Datuk or Tan Sri," said Samson.
“Only the Sultans and Governors of Malaysian states are authorised to bestow such titles on individuals who are recognised and awarded. Malaysians need to uphold our national honorifics as bestowed by royalty and state governors,” he said.
He added that there was also an Instagram profile @checkmytitle highlighting individuals with fake titles.
“You will see a host of current Malaysian prominent personalities on display with the titles,” he said.
