By CC Pung, Justice of Peace
Tokoh Wartawan Sabah and FT Labuan
As is customary, he gave out state awards to a bunch of people as well as appointing 10 persons as Justice of the Peace.
Hundreds of people received state awards every year.
Every state in Malaysia does the same thing every year in addition to the King’s honour list.
While it’s commonly assumed that the awards are given for the receipients’ ‘contribution to society, the criteria is seldom, if ever, talked about even as controversy rages over allegations of ‘cash for awards’ scheme allegedly practised in certain states.
In Sabah, the process of deciding state awards is governed by a set of legislations while another set of laws governs the functions and role of JPs and their appointment.
JP is clearly a remnant of the colonial administration.
JP means different between states. It’s an appointment in Sabah where JPs’ attestation of documents, for example, is recognised by the courts.
Such attestation is not accorded the same recognition in some states where JP is an award for public service, like in the case of a datukship, for example.
Despite some negative press and aspersions, including recent remarks by the Malaysian King who obliquely called for greater discernment in the giving of awards, their popularity hasn’t waned.
The King once joked that Malaysia has so many people with awards that if one tossed a pebble in the air, it would likely land on the head of a titled person.
I think that Marslow guy (who studied the needs of a typical person) is mostly right.
A state award, from the ordinary ‘certificate’ to the lofty ‘first class’ Datuk Seri Panglima, is largely intangible.
But obviously everyone is at a different station in life and, therefore, their Maslow-ish needs differ.
And what about those getting a ‘datuk’ award although they already held higher, more esteemed award given by the King?
I have more titled friends than I care to count.
Some are quite easy and ambivalent about it.
But there are those who, in not so many words, want even their pals to address their title, like ‘Datuk’ that comes with their awards.
To each his own.
Congratulations to all who are recognised
Editor: The views expressed are those of the writer and do not
