Whether recipients do the honourable thing and surrender their titles if they are accused of crimes or the medals are revoked, patience is wearing thin on criminal offenders tarnishing the image of titles.
“If there is any Malay ruler with the opinion that a recipient of their award has tarnished the title’s name, they can order for the award to be revoked, and it must be followed,” Tan Sri Rais Yatim was quoted saying in Utusan Malaysia.
The former minister and socio-cultural adviser to the government was commenting on Pahang Regent Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah’s remarks on the case of actor Datuk Farid Kamil, who was charged with assaulting a policeman and a civilian.
Farid received the Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang at Istana Abu Bakar, Pekan on December 16.
Rais said recipients of state and federal titles should lose their titles if they engage in crime or act inappropriately, as a way to safeguard the image of such institutions.
He added that the recipients would have no choice but to surrender their medals once these are revoked, and they cannot continue using the titles.
On Jan 17, Tengku Abdullah said he would prefer if award recipients be honourable by surrendering their titles if they are accused of crimes.
“If you ask me, I want to revoke all the awards. I am disappointed if there are individuals with the Datuk titles, who go against the law.
“I do not wish to punish anyone with the Datuk title if they commit any offence. However, if there are those who are aware of their actions and want to return the royal awards, then that will be more polite.
“We do not want to punish any quarters but it is they themselves who have made a mistake,” he said.
Meanwhile, Harian Metro reported that lawyer Salkukhairi Abd Sukor said candidates for such awards should be vetted more stringently.
He said such candidates should be scrutinised to determine their contributions to the country and society.
“Of late there have been many criminal cases involving Datuk, Datuk Seri, and other title holders, and this is a worrying fact.
“This sort of behaviour would eventually cause the public to lose respect for title holders, who won’t be held in high regard any longer. It would also tarnish the good name of royal institutions here,” he was quoted saying.
Salkukhairi also suggested that recipients should be at least 45 years old before they qualify for consideration.
“I believe an independent committee at state or federal level should be formed to suggest, consider, and approve all title recipient nominees before they are awarded.
“This would make sure only the deserving ones are recipients, who would, in turn, preserve the quality and reputation of fellow recipients,” he was quoted saying.