THE action of withdrawing federal/state titles and awards from errant recipients should not be restricted to a specific group such as politicians but to all “evil-doers who have brought shame to the country or the respective states which confer them.
Such is the thought of veteran journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin in light of His Majesty, Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, stressing that federal awards of orders, stars and medals are not for sale or lobbying but are meant for individuals who are truly deserving and have rendered service to the government and the country.
“From media reports, we get the impression that many Tan Sri, Datuk, Datuk Seri and so on are bad people with some can even be categorised as thugs and criminals,” he penned on his Facebook page.
“It’s an open secret that there are people with money who ‘buy’ stars and medals. This means that there are parties who lobby and there are parties who benefit from the practice.”
On this note, Kadir exposed how the Menteri Besar or Chief Minister of several states are using the awarding of titles as political capital and a source of party finance.
“From police reports and court hearings, we learn how some people pay hundreds of thousands of ringgit to agents and lobbyists ‘to buy’ stars and medals,” lamented the national journalism laureate.
“As a result, some young men in their 20s and people with criminal records are conferred stars and medals.”
Delving further on Sultan Ibrahim’s call that that federal titles and medals cannot be bought and sold, Kadir described such call as both timely and relevant to all states and territories.
“It shouldn’t be only the Yang di-Pertuan Agong who doesn’t condone such acts but state rulers should do likewise. Stop the bad practices that degrade the royal institution,” asserted the former group editor-in-chief of mainstream New Straits Times.
“It seems that the more advanced, prosperous and educated our country is, the more people are crazy about honorary titles and are willing to lobby and buy.”
Added Kadir: “As Sultan Ibrahim said, if you have a lot of money, do charity by helping the poor and needy. That’s the right and better way to get stars and medals.
“Do a service to the community and the country – not by playing golf, going on vacation or go shopping with the bigwigs.
“Such advice is very appropriate and useful because there are Tan Sris and Datuks who hide behind their titles to commit crimes, lobby for projects, bully and intimidate others.” – June 6, 2025
