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These days, it is almost becoming difficult to remain a commoner in Malaysia, with thousands of titles being awarded - and some allegedly sold - each year.

'Chasing titles is a Malaysian obsession and soon every Malaysian would be titled,' said businessman Khairul Anwar, referring to the ongoing public outcry after tiny Malacca state awarded 889 titles on Friday, 84 of which were the coveted Datuk title.

The Datuk titles went to mid-level leaders of the  dominant Umno party, well-connected businessmen, newspaper editors and some complete unknowns.

Titles are usually conferred on the birthdays of sultans or provincial governors. Every year, about 6,000 people are titled and about 600  receive Datuks.  There is no record about how many have been conferred in total.

The Malacca award has ignited protests and accusations that titles are either sold for up to M$150,000 (HK$307,000) apiece or given for political loyalty.

'Few of the recipients have made any significant contribution to society,' said a senior Umno leader.

'I am ashamed of this horse-trading.'

Datuk means wise elder person in old Malay society. It was a coveted title in ancient times and given only to individuals of the highest merit, equivalent to an English knighthood.

In modern times, the title invites disrespect and snide remarks from the common man. But to the titled elite, Datuk and its many variants remains a symbol of financial success and announces the person's arrival as a member of the ruling elite.

A Malaysian has not really considered to have made it in any field - from newscasting to high political office (except opposition politics) or academia - without the honourific Datuk before the name. The feminine form of Datuk is Datin.

With eight Sultans, four governors and a federal government all entitled to give annual titles, the honours system is overloaded.

There are titles for every level of society - the lowest is a title called PJK for loyal and lowly civil servant leading up to Tun - the highest of all titles,  which was given to Mahathir Mohamad  and his wife, Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, on his retirement last October.

Between the low and high are more than 40  titles.

Recipients of new titles rush to announce them in full page newspaper advertisements and organise numerous dinners to celebrate.

Not only is society filling up with titled people, but so are Malaysia's prisons, going by the numerous newspaper headlines announcing a Datuk was jailed for crime, usually cheating, loan sharking or money laundering.



Everyone's entitled to secure a title in the moneyed set