Thursday, October 23, 2008

Dr M defends Datukship for Shah Rukh Khan

Dr Mahathir Mohamad has come out in defence of the decision to award Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan with a Datukship. He said he is embarassed that the decision has been questioned as this is not the first time a foreigner has been awarded a Datukship. Dr Mahathir, said to be fan of the Indian actor, has said that Shah Rukh Khan deserves the title, according to the Malaysian Insider. Period. The former premier is entitled to his views although most Malaysians are still stunned at the Malacca state government move. But he has a point, there are many Malaysians who don't even deserve these titles. The decision to award Shah Rukh Khan was based on a recommendation by former finance minister Daim Zainuddin.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why is it that TDM made it his business to comment on the Datukship bestowed to the Indian actor. The only possible reason is, "Blood is thicker than water"
For the same reason, why did'nt he suggests actors like, Chun Yun Fatt and Jackie Chan equally deserve the same honor...even, Yb LKS, a son of melaka, is he not a more worthy receiptant?

Anonymous said...

Datukship is nothing in the foreign eyes. Henry Kissinger, Deng Xiao Ping or Harry Lee doesn't have one.

Who cares about Datukship? Some of them are worst than donkeys.

Anonymous said...

yeah right, in fact, it's Dr M's opinion that SRKhan deserved a datukship all because DrM is SRKhan's biggest fan.

Anonymous said...

This is debatable. No 100% right or wrong. Btw, Daim is Mahathir's budak.

reshmann said...

As we all know,datuk ship should be only conferred on those individuals who had contributed immensely for the nation or on those who had made the country proud on the international arena,so then why didnt Mahathir bestow such a honour on our mount everest conquerors,Magendran and Mohandass?Weren't they Malaysians,who risked their lives to achieve such a feat for the nation?Why even a gangster in Malaysia can be datuk,these 2 true heroes were not honoured,is it because they are simple persons or because of their skin color?Mahathir you are the architect of racism of our country,please leave us the rakyat alone.

Anonymous said...

Tun's comments are timely. He is not wrong. So what if our title is given out to Shah Rukh Khan? For those unhappy u still stand a chance. After all, we are giving more than 100 such titles a year right? So for those who is so hard up and/or aspiring to be the next Datuk, write to Ali Rustam lah and tell him why u deserve a Datukship. Maybe he may consider you for next year's title giveaway!

Anonymous said...

I believe its political. We know there has been talk that Ali Rustam is being asked to withdraw from his deputy presidency contest. So it could be a favour of TDM for Ali after calling him and others (except Muhyiddin) as jokers.

Anonymous said...

Why all the fuss over a datuk title? I suggest Pahang, Melaka, etc etc should just keep dishing out tons of datukship. If you folks say the datuk titles are no longer that meaningful, then you should not get angry if the meaningless titles are dished out to foreigners. I don't give a damn to anybody just because he has got a datul title.And I don't give two hoots if any state want to dish out datul titles to anybody, whether he/she is a local or a foreigner.I don't give a damn. So all you commentors out there need to be consistent. if you think the datul title is already devalued, then don't complain about SRK receiving a datuk title. I do not give two hoots whether Chow Yuen Fatt, Jacky Chan, Britney Spears, or the Indonesian dangdut queen gets a datukship. Because I don't care. But I do respect people who earn their PhD degree in a pedigree university, but not those wh o receive an "honorary doctorate", or those who get it in some low level university, or those who buy it online. And I do respect the poor guy or gal who go from rags to riches in an honest way without any government handouts, and I do respect people like RPK who put their lives on the to champion for justice. But datuks??? Who give a damn? They are a dime a dozen.

Anonymous said...

YES ! I support the proposal to give SRK a datukship! In fact, I support the practice of datukships being given out by the truckload every year! Now we, the humble people (but not necessarily poor, nor stupid, nor illiterate, nor crooked) without the datukship, will be the precious few!

Anonymous said...

Aiya, Chow Yun Fatt and Jackie Chan don't need any Datukship. They are not running for any BN party elections, nor are they trying to get government contracts, nor seeking recognition and self importance. They are already famous and recognized.

Anonymous said...

The only kind of datuk I treasure is the my own grandfather datuk. I don't care about the other "datuks". Allof you already have your own datuks in the family.

Unknown said...

sad m'sian citizen,

I believe all m'sian do love to watch James Bond movies but why not he get titles like "Tan Sri" or "Tun" for his role and so many well known actors and actress too.

Well, Its just b'cos no VVIP favourite them so no title lah...got VVIP taste sure got title........

Anonymous said...

Well Chun Wai,

Just because Mahathir thinks it is ok, it does not mean it is ok. he okayed many things which are not okay now.

Anyway, do you know how many top Tamil actors had come here to sheet scores of movies in Putrajaya, KLCC, Taiping Lake gardens, and many many more slots.

So do they all deserve Datukship? Awards should only be given to Malaysians who have sacrificed for the country or to those who brought fame to the country, not themselves. Exceptions are made to foreigners if they had contributed to the development of Malaysians or the country.

Just take a look at Singapore - they are simply progressing without all these fanfare. Our politicians are simply sticking to the old saying in Malaysia - KALAH TAK PA, STYLE MESTI MAU. More form than substance....

DATUK

Anonymous said...

I think high time to make the"Datukship" more meaningful & valuable, suggest to setup a universal criteria or standards as benchmarking, and endorse by the rulers and government. Otherwise, these Datukship is merely the political gift, control by the ruling politicians, to leverage for support.

Vesu said...

real jokers..wonder what is wrong with malaysian politicians - present and past. people like TDM and TD are already out of government and should stay out of interference, Mentri Besar like Ali must have the guts to tell of his ex bosses that he meant business...you see then there is this gabenor TS Khalil - hindi film fan ... haiya real jokers...
HELLO WE HAVE BETTER ISSUES TO WORRY ABOUT... SRK ...ia just another movie star..

Anonymous said...

jean todt got his datukship by merely buying a house in terengganu. so what?

let it rest la. move on la o childish ppl of malaysia!

Anonymous said...

Who cares of what Mahathir has got to say or think. Don't you all feel "muak" hearing n seeing so much comments from him lately. Who is he. If not for him Malaysia and UMNO would not be in this much trouble today. Don't try to put all blame on the current administration. After all, majority of them are part of his legacy.

He is suppose to establish a system in Malaysia such that the country can continue to grow by leaps and bounds. Read up on Genghis Khan, may I suggest.

Now he has so much to saaay. Huh! Move on man.

Anonymous said...

Pardon me if I read incorrectly that Tun Daim was quoted in the local media saying"...furthermore, Shah Rukh Khan is an Indian-Muslim". Is that the criteria for the Datukship?

Anonymous said...

From now on we calleverybody we meet as Dato! That way we neutralise the whole datukship thing. In fact datuks are so common,that in our circle of work, we just call all our business partner be it suppliers, customers or colleagues, "Datuk" both in jest as well as "just in case" in already got a Datuk title since it is so common.

Anonymous said...

OK lah, all mamaks ae now datuks. So when you go eat mamak food (personally I would avoid the oily food), address allthe workers there as "Datuk", courtesy of TDM. Mmmm I wonder how many Datuks (mamaks) exist in India.

BlueMoon said...

Usually I'm in agreemnt with Tun M but this time I'm not. It used to be that someone who carried datuk title was a very respected and important figure in the society. Now it's not worth a penny let alone an honorable award. It so easy to get datuk nowdays. So easy in that students who'd have completed their SPM examinations have been awarded. No wonder we have so many datuks who are involved in obcenities and immoral activities.

Anonymous said...

Name Wee deserves a Datukship for putting Malaysia on the map in the realm of rappers.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm. Wong Chun Wai, i think you too don't deserve your Datuk! what have you done to deserve it other than following orders from the political masters?

Zul Old Free

Anonymous said...

Why is mamak still so relevant today? He probably has incriminating evidence on many of the warlords and many other people. So if you don't support him, he will leak info to ACA and the press, and then you go to prison. So better scratch each other's back.

ZaHra MoHamed said...

hehe i'm just wondering, does srk knowz,abt this datukship title!..im just scared ..if he goes n ask.."yeh kya hein datukship";-D