Datuk here, datuk there, datuk everywhere. So what's in a title?

V Shuman

QUICK TAKE: If you pick up a stone today and throw it into a crowd, chances are you will probably hit a datuk, if not two. No, I'm not suggesting violence here. My point is: Datuks are everywhere nowadays.

For the uninitiated, the title is "supposedly" equivalent to the British knighthood (which carries the title Sir) in days gone by. Unfortunately, the prestige that is supposed to come with the title is gone because as a friend of mine used to say "the title is being sold on the back of a bicycle." Or worse, it can even be traded in a pasar malam. How many datuks are really worthy of the title?

NO NEED TO APOLOGISE

Anwar then summoned Azmin who admitted that he had, in fact, received the ‘election contribution’, which he did not declare not because he wanted to sailang the money but because it was illegal and the party’s candidates would get disqualified if the Election Commission (SPR) found out.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Axed PKNS staff claim MB ignored corruption

(Malaysiakini) – A number of axed Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) contract staff want the menteri besar to explain why cases of corruption and disciplinary matters referred to him were never acted on.

RM40 MILLION SPENT ON FOOTBALL

Khalid also said his administration was informed that the MACC is currently investigating allegations that funds meant for the PKNS football club (FC) was misused. Three state executive council members will be tasked with monitoring funds meant for the PKNS football team amounting to RM9 million per year.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Since Pakatan Rakyat took over the Selangor State Government in 2008, the Selangor State Economic Development Corporation or SEDC (PKNS) — the state agency currently facing controversy regarding the ‘sacking’ of Azmin Ali from the Board of Directors and the non-renewal of the employment contracts of 22 staff members — has spent RM40 million on football.

Taib names Adenan Satem as successor

Outgoing Sarawak Chief Minister, Abdul Taib Mahmud (right) hands over his resignation letter to Sarawak’s
Head of State, Abang Muhammad Salahuddin (left) in Kuching, on February 12, 2014. — AFP pic

KUCHING, Feb 12 — Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud today announced that he will be stepping down as chief minister effective February 28 and would be succeeded by Special Functions Minister at the Chief Minister’s Office and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

He said he handed over his resignation letter to Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng today.

Are Sabah BN Leaders Brave Borneo Patriots Like Taib? - Dr. Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu:“Pehin Sri Taib has spoken and has set the benchmark for patriots of Sabah and Sarawak to follow in his footsteps.  Well-spoken as a true Sarawak/Borneo patriot.   Will Sabah BN leaders prove themselves to be brave Borneo patriots looking after and protecting the interests of Sabah and Sabahans or remain as proxies and stooges of Kuala Lumpur?”asked Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, commenting on the Sarawak CM’s statement that his successor should ensure Umno and its brand of racially divisive politics is kept out of Sarawak andto vigorously protect the state's rights as spelled out in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

KM Sarawak: Alfred Jabu buat kejutan?

Jabu yang paling lama berkhidmat di bawah Taib
Read More at FMTBorneo+

Kanul Gindol
KUCHING : Ketika semua perhatian tertumpu kepada tiga, malah empat sekarang, nama pemimpin Islam Sarawak yang diwar-warkan bakal menggantikan Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud sebagai Ketua Menteri Sarawak, tidak ramai tahu bahawa timbalan ketua menteri negeri itu, Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, mungkin membuat kejutan.

Selain satu-satunya timbalan ketua menteri, Jabu, seorang Iban dan beragama Kristian, juga merupakan timbalan presiden Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) yang begitu lama berkhidmat di bawah Taib yang akan bersara dalam beberapa hari.

Why is Govt Not Pushing SESB for Compensation? - Dr. Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu:    “It seems that the people and everyone else has suffered losses from the recent power blackout and asking for compensation from SESB but not the Sabah government and its leaders” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief in response to the call by the Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chambers of Commerce for SESB to compensate consumers in the form of cash rebate or tariff discount.

The Sabah government and the federal Energy Minister should not have allowed the federal government to the 16.9% increase in electricity tariffs in the first place.

GST: Sabah BN leaders need to examine their heads, says Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu:    “The Sabah government leaders need to have their heads examined for wrongly supporting the implementation of GST in Sabah without considering the rights of Sabah and the welfare of Sabahans” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief in response to the Chief Minister’s statement that the Government is supporting the implementation of GST in Sabah and the call by PBS to open talks with the federal government to safeguard Sabah’s revenue base that may be eroded by the GST.

What National Re-conciliation Without Sabah Sarawak? -Dr. Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu:  “It is not surprising to the Malayan national parties that national means Malaysia without Sabah and Sarawak.  What national re-conciliation is meant by Umno/BN-PKR/Pakatan without the participation of Sabah and Sarawak?”said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, commenting on the calls for national reconciliation and national consensus.

For national reconciliation to be meaningful, there must be proportionate representation from Sabah and Sarawak and issues involving them need also to be addressed.  Sabah and Sarawak issues should not be left on the back-burner as though they do not exist or are not national issues.

Appreciate My Statement in The Right Context – Dr. Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu:“UPKO leaders ought to have appreciated my statement in the correct context instead of being ultra-defensive and rushing and resorting to personal attacks seemingly and as though to defend their guilt” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief in response to the personal unjustifiable accusations over his query on Upko’s relevance in BN.

The people would still remember that it was Parti Demokratik Sabah (now Upko) that acted in cahoots with Umno/Kuala Lumpur’s divide and rule policy that resulted in dividing the unity of Sabahans and caused the break-up of Sabahan unity under PBS and the downfall of the democratically elected PBS government.