For me, the true worth of a gentleman is measured by how well he treats the lowliest servant. Glittering heaps of accolades and awards don't exactly earn my respect. So what? Endless titles of Datukships and Tan Sris tagged in front of the name only earn a raised eyebrow from me as I wonder exactly how much a princely sum was given in exchange!
So when I see the entire hospital staff running helter skelter to prepare for the arrival of one of these supposedly awe-inspiring Datuks, I find myself shaking my head despairingly. Obviously our country's still pretty much feudalistic in culture. How else to explain the overblown festivities, the endless rites of protocol and the ever-present kow-towing toad-eaters associated with such titled folks.
Am I supposed to be impressed?
I honestly thought God Himself had come to pay a visit?
Paul : Wow. What's the fuss this morning?
Toady : Oh, we have to get things ready for the Datuk. The flower bouquets, the red carpet and the dancing girls.
Paul : What a merry carnivalesque reception. And what does he do again?
Toady : He's our elected representative.
Paul : So you voted for him? Isn't he supposed to work for you?
Toady : But he's a Datuk! Oh we need a ten-course banquet as well!
Like that's the end of all matters. Why not bow down three times in servile deference while you're at it? Or offer your virginal daughters as sacrifice?
But seriously, people. Haven't we moved beyond the olden days of antiquated feudalism? Didn't the French Revolution teach us anything at all? Give respect to the ones who deserve it. Though I'm sure there are a handful of titled folk who are actually deserving of the sobriquet, that doesn't mean all the Datuks are immediately worthy.
Respect should be readily given to the shabbiest-dressed teacher at the back rather than the shamelessly grinning Datuk with the shiny medals.
8 comments:
The earlier days when I wuz with a bank, a future "datuk" withdrew RM250K cash before the list was announced in the papers.
+Ant+
Perhaps the Datuk was cute.
I'm from the generation of the early 80s, i grew up in this! So The Very Malaysian lor... What is it again? Satu Malaysia !!!
"...a gentleman is measured by how well he treats the lowliest servant."
couldn't agree more!
we cant totally blame them for this...
from another angle, the datuk datin become like this because all the servants keep on kipas them~
right?
At the end of the day, all men are created equal. Titles and status are only temporary. So in theory no man deserves preferential treatment from anyone. Respect should always be earned, not given freely.
But in the screwed up world that we live in, it has been proven that "Scratch my back and i'll scratch yours in return" concept is alive and thriving. Hence the brown-nosing by the toadies is in hope for personal gain.
Whatever you do, just make sure it is something right that you can live by and not regret doing later.
it's typical and sort of malaysian culture. can't do nothing bout it, those high and mighty won't let the pampering stopped.
Not sure why they would pay. I don't think datukship carries as much a cachet as it used to, gratitude.
They hardly ever are, william. Well, maybe the space tourist.
So unfortunate lan, Eva!
Definitely, B!
Idiotic toadeating servants then, L!
Just hope things change in time, Mikey and Mr D. Especially when it comes to elected reps, they should be taken to task instead of being fawned over.
Paul
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