All states must follow Johor in limiting the number of awards each year. If too many ppl receive titles, then the titles become valueless. We know also how a lot of ppl got their awards.

Have they ever thought DEEPLY on the reason for giving such title to a Bollywood Actor. This is not our very local cum international celebrity Michelle Yeoh. At least she contribute heavily on the entertainment side as a Malaysian on international standard.

having an award may also mean one has to hantar and sambut the awarding ruler when he leaves for some trip funded by assorted awardees. also being called up for golf games and giving thank you gifts. in other words its quid pro quo. maybe there should be a "s m s" vote for awards to make it more democratic, which might not be a good thing because Hindraf members and "he who should not be named" and Teresa Kok might be voted for datukship ....

Last time, Datuk / Dato means hormat.

These days, as you have said, T, D and H also have. And moreover, some datuks are really questionable, like our AI.

Keep giving the datukship. The more the merrier. HAHA.

This would be ridiculous...non citizen getting datukship - reason of it? to encourage fellow malaysian to really work hard to earn such honurable title...

Not making any sense...non malaysian Datuk? so the govt be paying certain income to the new datuk khan in time to come? crazy!

A mockery of the datuk title!! What a shame!

Dodger, your 'ifs' has already happened and means too late it seems.
List datuks which you respect against those you don't then see which weigh more?

mizranee, vote shouldn't work that way.
Malaysian leaders should hear from the people and gain feedback then act with their wisdom, even with any other decisions and options they think fit.
The big boys MPs should know their jobs well.
That's the purpose of election voting. That's the way it works but sadly democracy in Malaysia fails.

Nice one, tonychan. Always humurous you.

sf_84only, it's not the first time with previous ISA, LCCT, Perwaja, abolish jury, press freedom etc.
Don't we think Malaysia was better like in the 70s with global comparison - per capita income, even football ranking, transparency, judicial etc.
Then who led us in the 80s and 90s?
The fellow who Mesti Always Hantam Abdullah Til He Is Removed.

Only build legacy for others to remember him. Which leaders wouldn't be able to build concrete buildings?
Twin Towers - not fully occupied.
KLIA - world class and integrated yet have to be split into LCCT.
Sepang - minimal contribution to tourism as compared to other F1 countries.
Proton - no world class yet made Malaysia economy too dependable on it, with hundred thousands of employees associated with thousands companies in its supply

chain.
EPF - mismanaged of bailouts
EPF own companies - being call as government owned instead of people's or independent bank/finance institutions, as practiced in Western world.
Perwaja - no futher introduction requires.
Cyberjaya - just like yesterday's TheStar paper, "Cyberjaya no longer a dream city"
Putrajaya - building cracked :) and what's the point when no improved of governance.

It appears to some that the whole process of getting a Datukship award seems to smack of cronyism, non-transparent and meant for the elite-famous-rich people who may be foreigners. So for the rest of us hardworking people who are trying to eke a living, this type of award is not for you. So no need to get a tailored suit, kebaya or songkok for the ceremony.
Once upon a time, some people from a particular community jumped the gun to self award people yet to be confirmed with the award as "zon Datuk" or "Datuk to-be" until such practice was stopped by the holder of the mohor (royal stamp).
These are the benefits of getting a Datukship award:
1) you will be walloped for donations when it comes to fund raising (eg. school, charity, big walk, jogathon-what not)
2) you are acknowledged in a meeting of all sorts (eg. makan, wedding, AGM, singing or dance competition, beauty contest,). can get better front row seating for being a Datuk
3) you sign off the Raya/Christmas/Deepavali/CNY card with "Datuk xxxx" rather than just Tom or Just Aslinda.
4) you get to wear the traditional Melayu dress for the occasion and really make the batik fashion sing for you. THe rest of us are in T-Shirts, oversized blouse and what nots from Parkson.
5) you get preferential seating in the airplane - like MAS. Mention the name or name dropping, and you can get a free juice flowing for the entire trip.
6) your face will be popular in the community events snapshots - gotong royong, raya do, eat the longest popiah contest, beauty contest etc
7) you get to judge your local beauty contest - unduk ngadau or cute baby contest, Mother and daughter look a like contest, eating ketupat or burger contest.
8) you get to sample the free merchandise and food packages from sponsors - NEstle, Johnson & Johnson, Nike, Rahim, Adabi, etc.
9) you get to have a large size colour photo in golden gilded frame and placed it at a strategically located position in your house so that everyone who enters your front door will get to admire it with awe. Best if you can also wear the kain Melayu with a keris and songkok or kebaya with selendang for the ladies. Syiok..
10) suddenly you are acknowledged as a hardworking person, has arrived at your status and treated with respect. Even your garbage smells better than the rest in your neighbourhood. THe garbage collector knows where you live and salute at you when he passes by.
Not bad for getting all the attention, special treatment and freebies. The rest of us back to work, stop dreaming and work harder for the country. Just a thought - these are my imagination - and may be fictional. Your comments please.