There is a rumour swirling about Putrajaya at the moment among the higher echelons of the Civil Service. The rumour surrounds a 4th Floor plan to turn Kalimullah Hassan into a Tan Sri!
Now, normally, the Civil Service would just go through the motions when instructed by the PM or, in recent years, by the 'children' and their 'new Dato' friends on the 4th floor. However, it seems that many Civil Servants are sufficiently appalled of the thought of calling Kalimullah Hassan "Tan Sri" that they are resisting the attempt to make him one!
The man on the street of course probably also don't see a reason why Uncle Kali should be made a Tan Sri. A Dato', of course... I mean anyone with a bit of a name gets a plain Dato' in this country, but a Tan Sri? One wonders which of these achievements merit Uncle Kali getting a Dato'-ship?
- Successfully getting Pak Lah, as well as a large number of other VVIPs, to believe that Kali was somehow 'responsible' for securing them higher office, when he was not?
- Successfully turning the New Straits Times into the least read of the mainstream dailies in Malaysia whilst transforming it into little better than a mere tabloid in the process?
- Getting appointed to numerous high ranking corporate positions because of 1?
- Getting a big slice of the ECM-Libra pie and then helping the facilitation of numerous financial rapes, the most celebrated being the rape of Avenue Capital by ECM?
- Successfully being exposed as a liar with his fake recollection of the event of Pak Lah's kow-towing to Tun Dr M in Tokyo a couple of years ago?
- Successfully, showcasing his skill as the most accomplished psycophant or 'maha-pangampu' of this or any other era of Malay history?
- And just to add some conspiracy spice; successfully being accussed of spying on high-level Malaysian affairs for Singapore?
- etc.
- etc.
- ... ad nauseum...
Could these achievements be good reasons for him to get a Tan Sri-ship? Pity all the other Tan Sri's in Malaysia. If Kalimullah Hassan does get his Tan Sri-ship, Pak Lah and his boys would again be responsible for transforming yet another honoured tradition in Malaysia into a mockery... Well, at least Mat Taib will have company in the lower quality bracket of Tan Sri's...
But perhaps that is not the end game. Maybe what they wish to do is give Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) a Tan Sri-ship? With many of KJ's mate's being Dato's already, how could KJ's title also be limited to a Dato'-ship! But of course, they need to test this first, so why not have this idea tested by giving the title to another K?
Tan Sri Khairy Jamaluddin... hmmm... has a certain ring to it... Wonder what the Civil Service would think about that?! So much for Pak Lah being the hero of the Civil Service...
Important update:
Alhamdulillah, sensible minds have prevailed it would seem... Kali merits only a Dato' from the Agong. Thanks Hard-T for the update...
I know of a Petronas manpower supplier who has a Datuk from Pahang and a Tan Sri from Kelantan. So what is so alarming of this given to Kali.
ReplyDeleteSorry Ricardo, i think you should check your facts. A Tan Sri-ship is a Federal title that is bestowed by the Agong and cannot be bestowed by a state.
ReplyDeleteTan Sris are also limited in the number of local living holders of the title allowed, and Tan Sris are treated as a VVIP regardless of post, at least in commonwealth countries, as it's equivalent to feudal titular holders, so it is a big deal.
The highest title that a state monarch can bestow is a Datuk Seri or equivalent. That is why some VVIPs are refered to as Tan Sri Datuk Seri, to inferr holding of a senior Federal and State title.
This is common in Malaysia.People who have been working hard for the party is not appreciated.Kali is an opportunist since day one.Tan Sri tittle is just going to be another feather on the cap for him.
ReplyDeleteagree with a m ubaidah s. to be exact, there are ONLY 160 local Tan Sris should be in Malaysia.
ReplyDeletePanglima Setia Mahkota for 80 persons (excluding foreigners)
Pangmima Mangku Negara for 80 persons (ex foreigners)
however, dato'seri is higher rank than tan sri, but below Tun.
Datuk-ship only. List at my blog
ReplyDeletecorrection mutalib..
ReplyDeleteThe hierachy goes;
Tun-TanSri-DatoSeri-Dato
Dato' or Tan Sri, my 2 fingers, who cares. Most of whom in the news, I see as crooks.
ReplyDelete"Alhamdullilah, only a Dato'."
ReplyDeleteDo I detect a sigh of relief that this character is ONLY being made a Dato'?
See how the bars are being lowered on almost everything in Bolehland.
To me even a Dato'ship would be too good if all the things said about Mr Kali have even an ounce of truth in them.
Soon, will we be thanking god "that its only a .78c increase in petrol, or crime has only gone up 55%, or only 90% of our politicians are corrupt, or only 150 have died in the NS, that our university rankings have only dropped 3 points from 150 to 153?" Soon, will those be the acceptable standards that will send us to bed happy every night?
Many years ago even a Dato', much less a Tan Sriship, would only be given to really really deserving personalities, not to any tom, dick, and kali.
I sympathise, Mr Bojangles, but I am simply being a realist.. and Kali has a Dato' already anyhow, so somewhat less harm done no? Dato'-ships have become a dime a dozen, and agree they should not have...
ReplyDeleteA lot of idiots and crooks gets honured passing off as a Dato or even Tan Sri these days.
ReplyDeleteGiving titles to such peopel just demeans the title and even his Majesty.
Shouldn't the Royals be cncern with the depreciating value or honour to the title they bestow?
VVIPs, VIPs etc. What if any special privileges go with these designations? Who is classified as a VIP or VVIP in Malaysia? Are such persons exempt from any Malaysian laws or from prosecution for violation of any Malaysian law. Is someone with title Tun, Tan Sri or Datuk automatically accorded whatever privileges go with the VIP/VVIP tags?
ReplyDeleteIn Malaysia, even the royals are not completely immune from the laws, what more the entitled subjects.
ReplyDeleteThe Many Tuns, Tan Sri, etc may gain some privileges from their titles, some more than just benefits of protocol, but these do come with obligations. And the rulers may strip them of their titles if they do break the law.
Thanks A M Ubaidah S for clarification for a farang.
ReplyDeleteAkram...apsal tak kasi "TUN" je kat dua2 ekoq makhluk tu...hehhehhe...lepas tu suruh pencen awal...hehheh...
ReplyDelete