Honorary title conferment is still massively practiced in Malaysia. Titles like Tun, Tan Sri, Datuk Seri, Datuk, etc, have been regularly awarded by succession of Kings, the Malay Rulers and Head of States, normally in recognition of notable achievements, services or contributions made to the nation or society.
The recipients of these titles now might have reached tens of thousands in number, to the extent that if one were to throw a stone into a crowd of people, it is highly likely that it might hit a Datuk.
Apart from the honorary title, another kind of title refers to those conferred in the academic world, like Dr, Associate Professor, Professor or Professor Emeritus. The first is awarded to those who have successfully completed their medical studies or those who have obtained their doctoral degrees (Ph.D) from any tertiary institution.
The remaining academic titles denote one’s achievement in the academia and scholarship. This can be measured, among others, by means of producing considerable number of intellectual writings and works, conducting serious research resulting in new inventions and discoveries or deliberating papers in various academic forums.
Often times the honorary titles may be combined with academic titles in certain outstanding individuals.
The question is, is it the titles, either honorary or academic, that give honour, respect and distinction to its recipients?
Tan Sri Prof. Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, a prominent thinker, once said to me that it is not the title that gives honour, pride and dignity to its recipient. But rather, it is the recipient who must honour and preserve the sanctity of the title, especially the academic or religious ones.
Prof. al-Attas walked the talk in his academic career. Upon appointment as professor at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 1972, he honoured the professorship by delivering a magnificent ‘Syarahan Pengukuhan’ (lecture of acceptance), entitled “Islam dalam Sejarah dan Kebudayaan Melayu” (lit. ‘Islam in Malay History and Culture’).
This deliberation has been regarded by many academicians and political leaders as a masterpiece in terms of intellectual contents, and categorically proving that indeed Bahasa Melayu is highly capable as a language of knowledge.
I am not sure whether this Syarahan Pengukuhan has become a culture and maintained by UKM till now. I also wonder whether this important academic discourse being emulated by other universities in this country.
Being a scholar of world stature, I earnestly believe that Prof. al-Attas’s acceptance of the Tan Sri award indeed lends more credibility and credential to the title, not vice versa.
The same holds true, for example, with the conferment of ‘Tun’ to our former PM, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed and former national Chief Secretary, Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid.
The conferment of such a title comes with certain duties and responsibilities. While one may feel proud with such accolades, one must not act in a manner that may bring disrepute to the title.
A Datuk, for example, must not exploit his datukship as a license or as a vehicle of power to manipulate others or to inflict injustice upon them, or to commit any form of criminal breach of trust by siphoning public money or robbing companies’ coffers for personal gain, or to stand above the law.
The higher one’s title is, the greater one’s duties and responsibilities. Such a title does not extend one’s ‘rights’ or enhance one’s powers to treat other people unjustly, or to do whatever one likes at one’s whims and fancies.
Yet we witness again and again how this privilege has been misused or abused by a number of unscrupulous title bearers without any sense of guilt. They fail to understand that their position is actually a trust (amanah), to make them accountable and to protect the good interest of the people.
By the same token but in a different manner, a Ph.D holder is not supposed to think that he/she is already at the top of the world and can ridicule others indiscriminately. He must realize that his doctorate just marks a new beginning of a long intellectual arduous journey-if he ever aspires to become a discerned and serious academic.
A professor, first and foremost, must ‘profess’ something profound intellectually to justify his/her elevation to the position of professorship. This is to be followed with other series of professes, discoveries, rediscoveries, findings and solutions.
Otherwise he’s doing great injustice to himself in particular, and to knowledge in general. As a true scholar, he or she is supposed, or rather obliged, to solve people’s problem, and not to confuse them any further in any problem at stake.
In fact, the same intuit of responsibility applies to other ‘title-less’ people if they are entrusted with certain offices, both in public and private sectors, like heads of departments, institutions, or NGOs; judges in the civil and Islamic judicial systems; or chief executive officers or chief financial officers of companies.
The list continues to include those people elected or appointed to power sitting in the State Assemblies or the two Houses of Parliament. Their ‘YB’ status does not mean ‘Yang Berhormat’, but more aptly, ‘Yang Berkhidmat.’ They shoulder the duty to honour their titles and serve their subjects well.
The burden of responsibility is even greater on those people heading religious bodies or especially entrusted with religious jobs and duties like missionary officers, imam, ulama, qadhis, muftis, monks, priests, etc. They are not to mislead their respective communities or set bad or wrong moral examples to the public.
In short, all people with social or political privileges, or helming positions with certain powers or authorities-either with or without titles-are supposed to carry out their duties and responsibilities professionally, honestly, ethically, religiously, without any element of deceit, self-interest, exploitation, at the expense of others.
I hope that when people advertise their honorary title or awards in the media, they do so with the burning spirit to contribute more to the people, with stronger commitment to do more for the nation, and not actually subtly ask the ‘less fortunate’ in the entire universe to “know your place, pour in more honour, more respect to me now!”
On the contrary, I humbly suggest that these ‘dignitaries’ commemorate or solidify their title conferment with thanksgiving or acceptance receptions and followed by continuous social and charity works, within their best abilities and means.
This is the most appropriate way for concerned holders to perceive and honour their titles. They must not subscribe to the idea that it’s the latter that honours the former.
Of course, the foregoing discussion serves as a reminder for me myself if I am or were in that privileged position. It’s a great challenge to preserve your integrity and dignity.
Apart from Quranic or prophetic injunctions or the wisdom of true ulama, a line from the Uncle of Spiderman in the movie is relevant here: Remember, with great power comes great responsibilities.
‘Power’ here may refer to the upliftment of one’s social status through conferment of honorary or academic titles, or appointment to certain influential positions in the society.