Understand that Ng Boon Bee, former doubles partner with Tan Yee Khan and Punch Gunalan, a three times winner of the All England Mens Doubles was honoured with a Datukship. Boon Bee was well known among, and well respected by, the top Chinese players of that time lead by the "Thing" or Master Tang. I wonder why he had to wait so long for this award. Both Yee Khan and Punch Gunalan became Datuk a some time ago. BTW, Malaysia's youngest Datuk is squash queen Nicol David.
I have three close friends who are Datuks, all prominent Malays. One volunteered a donation of a quarter of a million ringgit because it was small change for him. Datukship also has market value. They are sought after as chairman of companies.
Better late than never. I watched him play and he was one hella player. Boom Boom Bee as he was better known deserves the Dato title. I think LCW should be awarded the Dato title if he wins 'GOLD' as Nicol got one.
The title "Datuk" nowadays are too commercialised. Many of them have the title but they have no substance. I'm not saying the "Datuk" title is no good. I myself also have many Datuk friends whom i know very well. But at the same time i also met some Datuks which i don't think they deserve it. Datukship does has its value. Some of my business partners, either Chinese or Malays prefered not to have the title if given the opportunity to do so. Times has changed.
U want to get Datuk-ship, then u have to to somrthing people never done it b4, like take a space-taxi to space.
I smashed on the umpire's head when i lost in the final of Chow Kit Open many years ago. Thus, the next year i get my dato-ship. Requirement : do what people never done it before
In Malaysia there is another type of Datuk, more ancient than the present form. Datuks were considered Fore Fathers of the Land or Saints of the Land. You go into the jungle and if you do a foul deed the Datuk will spin a curse on you.
He will get more than a Datuk-ship if he is malaysian. Wait and see, Rexy will be the next Datuk when mas win the gold medal in OG08.
A Datuk is equivalent to a knighthood under the British tradition. It has very high value because there is a fixed limit of Datukships at any one time, only 200. However, foreigners can be awarded a Datukship and is not subject to this limit, thus reducing its value relative to native Datukship. There is also Datoship which has no fixed numbers. But there is another type of Datuks that have a hold on the Malay psyche and Malay martial arts.
Off topic-So.. ..which one sounds or suits better for our member, Dato Asbullah??: Dato Asbullah or Datuk Asbullah
kah kah kah, that's a good one . Or there's a less..... violent way, by virtue of having grandchildren, one becomes a "Datuk"(grandpa).
even that guy travel around the world with his yacht is entitled Dato... i need to check and do the never-been-done. Datuk Drifit...... sound nice Datuk is conferred by DYMM Agong (King) Dato' is conferred by states' Sultan same to Dato Seri and Datuk Seri i am thinking of Tun Drifit........ sound much more nicer .... then, everyone here can call me Sir
Nicol David's title is "Datuk" conferred by Penang's Gabenor. Penang, Melaka, Sabah no Sultan. But I'm not sure abt the difference between the Datuk given by Agung & the one given by the state. He he, Sir Drift, sounds..... drifty...
I say Ng Boon Bee deserved the honours but I am sad to say the title came a little too late! He should be awarded one ages ago!!! And I think Nicol Davids should not be given her 'Datukship', yet. We should have waited until her playing days are over. The 'Datukship' title need to have some prestige and honour. And I am sorry, awarding it to someone who is in her 20s just dont sound right, even though she is a world champion in squash. At the rate we are dishing these Datukships out, dont be surprise in 10 years time, we may have teenagers being awarded the title!
