DAP’s stand against accepting honorific titles betrays either its failure to understand the Malay psyche or its lack of interest in winning the respect of the community.If DAP is serious about increasing its appeal among Malay voters, chairman Karpal Singh should not have so easily brushed aside allegations by delegates to last week’s Umno assembly that members of his party insult Malay rulers when they decline datukships and other such awards.
Datuks may be a dime a dozen to the sophisticated urban Malay, but to his more traditional minded cousin in the kampung, a person holding such a title still commands awe and respect because it shows that even a sultan has recognised his worth.
Of course, a Yang DiPertua Begeri can also confer a datukship, but that point is quite irrelevant. To the Malay mind, the head of a state is royal, whether his blood is blue, green or pink.
DAP must have noticed that in Penang, any department head with a “datuk” before his name commands greater respect among civil servants than even the Chief Minister, who is only an “Encik”.
Of course, they know that Lim Guan Eng is their big boss. But as long as he is not a datuk, he is still seen as someone who is not fully recognised by the palace.
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