Malay styles and titles

The Malay language has a complex system of styles, titles and honorifics, which are used extensively in Brunei and Malaysia. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders. The Philippines historically used Malay titles during its pre-Hispanic period, as evidenced by the titles of historical figures such as Rajah Sulayman, Lakandula, and Dayang Kalangitan. Malay titles are still used by the royal houses of Sulu, Maguindanao, Maranao and Iranun on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, but these are retained on a traditional basis as the 1987 Constitution explicitly reaffirms the abolition of royal and noble titles in the republic.[1][2][3][4]

Indonesia, meanwhile, as a Republic, does not recognize hereditary rulers and aristocratic systems. Nevertheless, their royal titles and honors are still used as courtesy titles.

Malaysia, Brunei, and several provinces in Indonesia regularly award honorary and life titles. What follows is specific to the Malaysian system. References to Brunei and Indonesia are given when pertinent.

In Malaysia, all non-hereditary titles can be granted to both men and women. Every title has a form which can be used by the wife of the title holder. This form is not used by the husband of a titled woman; such a woman will bear a title which is the same as a titled man.

Usage

The sequence that should be used when formally writing or addressing a person's name is: honorary style, professional rank, royal hereditary title, federal title, state title, non-royal hereditary title, Doctor (of medicine or philosophy), Haji/Hajjah (for Muslim men and women who have performed the Hajj), name.

When in the home state, the state title may precede the federal title. An example would be Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem, whose federal title is Tan Sri and state title is Datuk Patinggi. His title would be expressed as either:

Another exception is when a person has received an award from a state other than the person's home state; when visiting the award-bestowing state, that state's title will take the place of a home state's title (if any). As an example, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak will be titled as follows:

Similarly, his wife, Datin Sri Rosmah Mansor is titled in Sarawak as:

A style carried by virtue of royal title always trumps those carried by non-royal titles. Male royals may choose to append "al-Haj" to their name instead of using "Haji". The following example is correct:

Malay royalty

The following titles are hereditary and reserved for royal families of the royal families of Brunei and nine royal states of Malaysia.

Brunei

The following styles and official titles are used for members of the royal house in Brunei:[5][6]

For those who have blood-ties with the royal family who are married, styled as Prince or Princess and given the hereditary honorific prefix Pengiran:

The titles for grandchildren apply to great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. For generations following that, the title is only Pengiran.

A person who marries a distant member of the royal family (ie: Pengiran) is given the title Pengiran Anak; the title is lost if they divorce.

Unmarried royal children have the title Awangku if male or Dayangku if female.[7]

Malaysia

Titles of Malaysian royalty and rulers:

Styles on formal Malaysian notices

Federal titles

In Malaysia, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong grants federal titles as awards which are honorary and non-hereditary. These titles may be revoked by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or returned by the individual.

There is a maximum number of Malaysian subjects who may be award-holders at any one time. These numerical limits apply only to Malaysian subjects. Foreigners may be awarded such titles in a supernumerary and honorary capacity and may use the title locally.

Tun

The Tun title has existed in Malaysian society for hundreds of years. In ancient times, Tun was an honorific title used by noble people of royal lineage, inherited by the male descendants.

Over time, the Tun title has become a title conferred by the Yang Di Pertuan Agong to the most-deserving recipient who has highly contributed to the nation. The highest federal award granted by the Malaysian government is the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SPGP).

Tun is the most senior federal title awarded to recipients of either the SMN (Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara) or SSM (Seri Setia Mahkota). However, the SMN and SSM are not the highest federal awards, ranking fourth and fifth, respectively. There may not be more than 35 local living holders of each of these awards at any one time.

The title for the wife of a Tun is Toh Puan.

The SMN is usually awarded to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (YDPN) with the title of Tun and the highest order of the state. Some examples:

Tan Sri

Tan Sri is the second-most senior federal title and an honorific used to denote recipients of the Panglima Mangku Negara (PMN) and the Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM). The PMN and PSM rank seventh and eighth, respectively, in the order of Malaysian federal awards. The wife of a Tan Sri is called Puan Sri.

There may be at any time up to a maximum of 75 living PMN holders, and a maximum of 250 living PSM holders.

Malaysian-born actress Michelle Yeoh was awarded the Tan Sri title in 2013.

Datuk

Datuk is a federal title that has been conferred since 1965. It is limited to recipients of Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN) and Panglima Setia Diraja (PSD), the ninth- and tenth-ranked Malaysian federal awards. There may be up to 200 living PJN holders and 200 living PSD holders at any one time. The wife of a federal Datuk is a Datin.

A female conferred the title in her own right is formally known as "Datin Paduka"; the prefix "Datuk" is more commonly used for women as well as men.

Individual states that have a head of state nominated by the respective state's legislature may confer the title of 'Datuk' to individuals. However, this is different from the title "Dato". The latter is awarded by individual states headed by a Sultan, and not a head of state nominated by the state legislature. For example, the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (State Governor) of Malacca is the non-hereditary head of state nominated by the state legislature. He may confer the title of 'Datuk'. The Sultan of Pahang is the hereditary ruler of the state and may confer the title of "Dato' ". Individual rulers (and their staffs) determine the award of these titles.

State titles

In Malaysia, the ruler and governor grant state title awards. Such titles are honorary and non-hereditary. State titles may be revoked by the ruler or governor and may be returned by the individual.

In many cases, there is a maximum number of Malaysian citizens who may hold a state title or award at one time. These limits do not apply to foreigners. Some may carry the following state titles.

Dato' Sri

Dato' Sri or Dato' Seri is the highest state title conferred by the ruler on the most-deserving recipients who have contributed greatly to the nation or state. It ranks below the federal title Tun and is an honour equivalent to federal title Tan Sri. The wife of a recipient is Datin Sri.

The current Prime Minister of Malaysia's title is Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak. Former Prime Ministers Mahathir bin Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi each held the title Dato' Sri during their administrations; following retirement, they received Malaysia's most senior federal title, Tun, conferred by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Dato' Sri is the most-senior state title, conferred during the ruler's birthday celebration with the SPMS award. In Selangor, a maximum of 2 Dato' Sri (SPMS)[8] state awards can be conferred each year, up to a maximum of 40 living Dato' Sri (SPMS)[8] holders at any one time.

Women who hold the Dato' Seri would be called "Datin Paduka Seri". There are derivatives such as "Datin Paduka Seri Utama" in Negeri Sembilan.

Some rulers grant awards which carry high titles unique to that state, such as Dato' Sri Utama of the state of Negeri Sembilan.

Datuk Seri

Datuk Seri (pronounced in similar manner to Dato Sri) is the most-senior state title conferred only by the governor.

A governor who is appointed by the Yang Di Pertuan Agong can award the Datuk Seri title which is equivalent to federal title Tan Sri.

There may be confusion between the titles Dato' Sri and Datuk Seri, since the Malaysian media may address Dato' Sri title-holders as Datuk Seri.

Women who have been awarded the title of Datuk Seri may use its feminine title of "Datin Paduka Seri" and its derivatives such as "Datin Paduka Seri Panglima", "Datin Paduka Seri Utama" and "Datin Paduka Patinggi".

An example is the current spouse of the prime minister, Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Dato'

Dato' is the most common title awarded in Malaysia. The wife of a Dato' is a "Datin", except in Terengganu where they are known as "To' Puan" (not to be confused with "Toh Puan", the wife of a non-hereditary Tun). The title may only be conferred by a hereditary royal ruler of one of the nine Malay states.

Dato' is also a hereditary title in Negeri Sembilan, where titles are held for life by heads of certain families and passed on to their heirs. These are not conferred by the ruler, but passed on through the customary native laws. The wife of a hereditary Dato' is addressed (by courtesy) as "To' Puan".

In other states, certain noble families have hereditary titles and are addressed as Dato'. For example, the current Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Najib Tun Razak, is hereditary Orang Kaya Indera Shahbandar of Pahang. He would have been addressed as "Dato' " even if he had not been conferred a Dato' Sri (SSAP)[9] state award of Pahang.

Foreigners may be awarded such titles in a supernumerary and honorary capacity and use the title locally.

A female Dato'-holder is called "Datin Paduka"; her husband will not receive a title. An example is Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba.

Other derivatives are "Dato' Wira" in Pahang, "Dato' Paduka" in Kedah and Negeri Sembilan, and "Dato' Laila" in Brunei.

The Governor of Sarawak may award the Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBS) which carries the title "Dato" (without the apostrophe).

Datuk

The Governors of Melaka, Penang, and Sabah can confer the title Datuk, not Dato'.

Each state may have their own unique variation of Datuk. The award Darjah Cermelang Seri Melaka (DCSM) from Melaka carries the title Datuk Wira. Sarawak awards senior civil servants the Datuk Amar and Datuk Patinggi.

Dato Paduka

Dato Paduka is the most-common title awarded in Brunei, of which it is a class of the Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Yang Amat Mulia ("The Most Honourable Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei"). The wife of a Dato Paduka is a "Datin". If the award is conferred on a woman in her own right, she would be addressed as "Datin Paduka".

Other versions of Dato Paduka include "Dato Seri Paduka", "Dato Paduka Seri", "Dato Laila Utama", "Dato Paduka Seri Laila Jasa" and others. These title awards are non-hereditary, granted by the Sultan of Brunei.[10]

Pehin

This title is mainly used in Brunei and Sarawak. An example of the title in Brunei would be Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa, the former Minister of Home Affairs.[11] In Sarawak, the title comes with the award of the Satria Bintang Sarawak (SBS). Among its first recipients is Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib, the former Chief Minister of Sarawak and incumbent Yang DiPertua Negeri Sarawak.[12]

JP

Justice of Peace (JP) ranks below all Dato' or Datuk. In Malaysia, Justices of Peace have largely been replaced in magistrates' courts by legally-qualified (first-class) stipendiary magistrates. However, state governments continue to appoint Justices of Peace as honours. In 2004, some associations of JPs pressed the federal government to allow JPs to sit as second-class magistrates to reduce the backlog of cases in the courts.

Honorary styles

The following are used as styles, both before a person's title and by themselves as forms of address:

The English versions of these styles follow British usage. Thus the prime minister, cabinet ministers, senators, state executive councillors and judges of the High Court and above are styled the Honourable or the Right Honourable, although technically it is a solecism to style the prime minister or heads of courts Right Honourable as they are not members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.

Other Malay titles by inheritance

Other salutations

Order of Kinabalu

An order of chivalry, styled Darjah Yang Mulia Kinabalu (The Illustrious Order of Kinabalu), was established by Act of Parliament in the State of Sabah. The relevant legislation governing Honours and Awards in Sabah is the State Honours Enactment, 1963 (Sabah No.33 of 1963) (as amended).[13] The Enactment deals with all aspects including process of nomination, conferral, wearing of medals, promotion in the Order and quotas. Appointments to the Order are made to persons who have rendered 'meritorious service to the State'.[14] Appointment to the Order is submitted to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (the Governor) by the Chief Minister; every appointment to the Order is by warrant under the hand of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri.[15]

Non-citizens may be appointed as honorary members of the Order.[16] An example is Shane Leslie Stone, former Chief Minister of Australia's Northern Territory, who was conferred the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu in 1998.

The motto of the Order is Sabah Maju Jaya ("Sabah Advances Victorious").[17] The Yang di-Pertua Negeri (the Governor of Sabah) is the Patron of the Order, and is deemed a member of the First Grade.[18] A Chancellor is selected by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri from amongst the members of the First Grade.[19]

There are four Grades of the Order:[20]

  1. First Grade – Sri Panglima Darjah Kinabalu (post nominal SPDK)(Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Kinabalu). Recipients may use the appellation and style before their names of "Datuk Seri Panglima" and wives "Datin Seri Panglima".[21] There is a limit of 150 members excluding honorary members.
  2. Second Grade – Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (post nominal PGDK)(Knight Commander of the Order of Kinabalu). Recipients may use the appellation and style before their names of "Datuk" and wives "Datin".[22] There is a limit of 950 members excluding honorary members.
  3. Third Grade – Ahli Setia Darjah Kinabalu (post nominal ASDK)
  4. Fourth Grade – Ahli Darjah Kinabalu (post nominal ADK)

Medals of the Order include:

The Yang di-Pertua Negeri may, on the recommendation of the Chief Minister, cancel and annul the appointment of any person to any of the grades of the Order.[23]

Not all Datuks have lived exemplary lives and some have been convicted of crimes. The various rulers have recently taken steps to ensure the integrity of the institution by means of consultation and the revoking of the given titles.

Mahathir bin Mohamad mentioned that one of the problems with titles in Malaysia is the numbers of them given out. He stated in an interview "Personally, I feel if you want to give value to anything, it must be limited...if you produce a million Ferrari cars, nobody will care about buying a Ferrari."

The Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, stated "That is my view. You degrade the award and the Ruler has the right to revoke it. In my opinion, it should be taken away." He also stated that "Sometimes, I think we give away too many datukships...it dilutes and devalues the award."

In the first government following the independence of Malaya in 1957, 5 of 15 cabinet Ministers were Datuks. The finance minister at the time, Tan Siew Sin, held the title Justice of Peace. Later, he was granted a Federal award which carried the title Tun. The father of Malayan independence, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, received no awards and carried the title "Tunku", which he inherited as the prince of the state of Kedah. He was honorarily referred to as "Yang Teramat Mulia". The senate held only 14 datuks and parliament held only 7.

The conferral of "Datuk" by the Penang government to 25-year-old squash world champion Nicol David and Olympic badminton silver medalist Lee Chong Wei sparked controversy that they were too young to receive the title. The Melaka government was criticised for awarding the Datuk title to a non-Malaysian Indian actor, Shahrukh Khan, for making movies and promoting the Melaka state internationally.[24]

Issues in Selangor

Pahang

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Islam reaches the Philippines". Malay Muslims. WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  2. ↑ "The Royal House Of Sultan Council. The Royal House Of Kapatagan Valley". Royal Society Group. Countess Valeria Lorenza Schmitt von Walburgon, Heraldy Sovereign Specialist. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "The Royal House of the Sultanate Rajah Buayan". Royal Society Group. Countess Valeria Lorenza Schmitt von Walburgon, Heraldy Sovereign Specialist. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  4. ↑ "KIRAM SULTANS GENEALOGY". Royal Sulu. Royal Hashemite Sultanate of Sulu and Sabah. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  5. ↑ "brunei".
  6. ↑ "Royal Titles - The Royal Forums".
  7. ↑ "pengiran". Malay Dictionary. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Darjah Kebesaran Negeri Selangor Darul Ehsan". Retrieved 2 March 2010. (in Malay)
  9. ↑ "Pahang". Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  10. ↑ "BRUNEIresources.com - Honours, Orders, Decorations and Medals".
  11. ↑ Rozan Yunos. "The Daily Brunei Resources: A Pehin in Brunei".
  12. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  13. ↑ Sabah State Honours Enactment 1963 (as amended)
  14. ↑ State Honours Enactment, 1963 (Sabah No.33 of 1963)(as amended) Section.5
  15. ↑ State Honours Enactment, 1963 (Sabah No.33 of 1963)(as amended) Section.7
  16. ↑ State Honours Enactment, 1963 (Sabah No.33 of 1963)(as amended) Section.6
  17. ↑ State Honours Enactment, 1963 (Sabah No.33 of 1963)(as amended) Section.8
  18. ↑ State Honours Enactment, 1963 (Sabah No.33 of 1963)(as amended) Section.3(2)
  19. ↑ State Honours Enactment, 1963 (Sabah No.33 of 1963)(as amended) Section.16
  20. ↑ State Honours Enactment, 1963 (Sabah No.33 of 1963)(as amended) Section.4
  21. ↑ State Honours Enactment, 1963 (Sabah No.33 of 1963)(as amended) Section.12(1)
  22. ↑ State Honours Enactment, 1963 (Sabah No.33 of 1963)(as amended) Section.12(2)
  23. ↑ State Honours Enactment, 1963 (Sabah No.33 of 1963)(as amended) Section.18
  24. ↑ Shah Rukh Khan dapat Datuk
  25. ↑ "Selangor Sultan strips Anwar of 'Datuk Seri' title". malaymail online.
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