Cowboy Caleb the liberal arts, grown-up stuff & random mischief

Malaysia Wants To Make Shah Rukh Khan a ‘Datuk’

In Malaysia, there is a title called “Datuk” which is quite similar to the England’s habit of conferring the title of ‘Sir’ to various dignitaries. So if I received this title, I can then be Datuk Cowboy Caleb.

What most foreigners don’t know is that there is a rather dubious background that accompanies this. If a Malaysian were to encounter a ‘Datuk’, the following thoughts would flash subconsciously into their mind:

1. This person is very very rich. He probably bought the title.
2. This person is very well-connected, with all kinds of shady and powerful folk
3. I suddenly feel the need to be as far away from this person as possible

So this is the sad sad truth. While there are several folk that genuinely deserve the title of Datuk (for example, winning an Olympic medal) such folk are as rare as magic ponies.

Malaysia has declared that they are going to confer the title of Datuk upon Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Who?!

The reason given is that the actor had shot a movie scene in Malaysia several years ago resulting in an increase in the number of tourists. Nobody of course remembers what movie it was, or are able to give any numbers to support the sudden influx of tourist.

So how about all the other movies shot in Malaysia by various other tourists? Are they going to receive ‘Datuk’ titles as well? Some that come to mind are:

1. Michelle Yeoh in ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ - oh wait, they already made her a Datuk
2. Sammy Cheng, Richie Ren & Ah Niu, for making the extremely popular “My Summer Holiday” that convinced tons of folk from Hong Kong & China to visit Malaysia’s Redang Island.
3. Chow Yun Fatt & Jodie Foster, who starred in Anna & The King, which was filmed in the town of Ipoh

And the list goes on….

MALAYSIA BOLEH EPIC FAIL!!!

Update:
Malaysian politician Lim Kit Siang has also arrived at the same conclusion as me

Malaysians are in an uproar over such a move - as documented here in “The People Just Khan Believe It”. In fact, it turns out that Shah Rukh Khan didnt even bother to turn up to receive his award. FACEPALM!

He is like god-like status already in his own country - what’s the point of a datukship?

I have my rants and feel that it is such an humiliation to country’s honor… do read more at http://nexuskhan.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/datuk-shahrukh-khan-maa-ehhhhh/ and I gotta say, you got a great POV there yourself!

Tuan,

Sampai saat ini walaupun saya telah menulis artikel khas bertajuk “Tahniah Datuk Shah Rukh Khan” saya masih tidak percaya berita yang saya dengar dari media perdana tanah air. Saya masih tidak berhenti berharap agar Bernama mengeluarkan “Ralat” kerana tersalah lapor ataupun tersalah tulis “Nasir Bilal Khan” sebagai “Shah Rukh Khan”.