KUALA LUMPUR: States need to be progressive and adopt laws such as the Awards Act 2017 to prevent the use of fake titles and honours.
Speaking at the Council of Datuk Dato' Malaysia (MDDM) 'Act 787 Forum: Preserving the Sanctity of Awards', International Islamic University Malaysia, Kulliyyah of Laws lecturer, Associate Professor Dr Shamrahayu Abdul Aziz, said that such laws would provide authorities with the necessary tools to curb the use of fake titles.
"We need more progressive laws. States should enact legislation similar to Act 787, as only certain states, such as Negri Sembilan, have implemented it to combat this issue," she said.
Despite being a federal law within the Federal Constitution, not all states in Malaysia have enacted Act 787, as the application and enforcement of the law can vary across states.
Act 787 refers to the Awards Act 2017, which was enacted to regulate and protect the use of honorific titles and awards conferred by the King, Sultans, and other state heads.
The Act aims to prevent the misuse of such titles, including the illegal assumption or sale of honorifics like Datuk, Tan Sri, and other similar awards. It also sets penalties for those falsely claiming or using these titles without proper entitlement.
Attorney General's Chambers Prosecution Division deputy head, Datuk Rozali Che Ani, also emphasised the importance of increasing the severity of punishments to deter people from committing offences under this Act.
"Previously, the fine was as little as RM50, but increasing it to RM2,000 or RM3,000 has made an impact. While not 100 per cent effective, raising penalties remains a useful deterrent against offences," he said.
During the forum, the council proposed several suggestions to amend the existing Awards Act 2017, such as clarifying the interpretation of Act 787 to ensure it encompasses all titles and honours conferred by the heads of State in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, MDDM president Datuk Awalan Abdul Aziz, mentioned several factors that led to the establishment of the Awards Act 2017.
"There are still cases being reported, and several have even been brought to court. The number of cases involving the misuse of honorifics is increasing," he said.