MDDM Seeks Stronger Act 787 After 200 Cases Of Fake State Medals, Titles In Two Years

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- Majlis Datuk Dato’ Malaysia (MDDM) is seeking tougher action on the misuse of fake and unrecognised state awards, emblems and honorifics after receiving more than 200 complaints over the past two years.

MDDM president Datuk Awalan Abdul Aziz said most of the complaints received concern individuals who misused titles for the purpose of obtaining business opportunities or claimed to have certain titles with the intention of gaining community recognition or clout.

"Sometimes these individuals put certain titles on their name cards and sometimes they receive titles from unrecognised parties in our country. They do that to convince the public that they are of higher esteem," he told Bernama recently.

In this regard, he hoped that the government would immediately consider the paper proposing improvements and amendments to Act 787 (Offences relating to Awards Act 2017) which had been already sent to the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) and the Attorney-General.

He said the proposal was to strengthen aspects of the effectiveness and enforcement of the act, including the proposal to increase fines and punishments for certain offences under Act 787 (RM20,000 fine or three years jail) as a deterrent to the abuse of honorifics and titles (current enforcement varies across states as not all have enacted Act 787).

According to Awalan, the move will also allow prosecution cases to be brought to a higher court.

He said another suggestion was to include a new section related to the police's investigative powers to provide 'clarity' in carrying out investigations and take certain action more effectively.

"This proposal also involves clarity to the 'interpretation' of Act 787 to ensure that it includes and covers all degrees of titles conferred by the 'Heads of States' in Malaysia.

"It includes awards bestowed by the King, Malay Rulers as well as Yang di-Pertua Negeri," he said.

In the meantime, he said that MDDM has established a collaboration with the Institutional Chair of Malay Monarchs, Universiti Teknologi Mara, for the purpose of strengthening and encouraging activities in the academic field and research related to the empowerment of the Institution of Malay Rulers.

-- BERNAMA