Monday, January 17, 2011

Title and dignity


Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN) awarded by Yang Di Pertuan Agong

A title means many things to different people. Some will go to great length to obtained whatever title that they can possibly get or be conferred by the relevant authorities. Some will search online for degree mills available through the internet to purchased a degree or doctorate so that they can affix the BA, MBA or PhD after their name. Some will unashamedly print their online purchases on their business cards!

For people living in Malaysia, stories of some "selected few" especially paying a tidy sum to middlemen in exchange for their names to be listed in the annual list of royal conferment are as normal as buying goreng pisang or burger from stalls available in every town.

On the political front, some politicians are known to have declined to accept any royal awards while they are still in service of the people. In the contrary some greenhorn politicians who are just few years in politics and barely reached 30, already clamouring for a "Datukship".

But then there are those who declined even to be nominated or awarded with any titles, disregarding the level of importance of the titles. There are few occasions when some people I know who  has worked selflessly for Buddhist NGOs flatly declined to be nominated. This is even after trying to convince them that they are more than qualified and deserving to be nominated after all their years of service and contribution to the country and community. Furthermore any conferment of awards by the state and country to them is also can be seen as an recognition of the organisations or community they represents.

But then there is always two sides of a coin, especially awards for those wearing religious robes.

Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN) conffered to Ven Chuk Mor in 1998
 
When the late Dharma Master Venerable Chuk Mor was conferred the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri ( DSPN) which carries with it the title "Datuk"  by the then Penang Governor in 1998, there were detractors who felt Buddhist monks should not accept any worldly title of this sort.  Others in the community on the other hand were elated and proud that at last a leader of the Buddhist community in the robe was recognised for  his contributions to society and the state. Even though Venerable Chuk Mor did not attend the conferment ceremony, the award was presented to him by the then Chief Minister of Penang Koh Tsu Koon at the Triple Wisdom Hall Penang.

The Johan Setia Mahkota (JSM) which were awarded to the late Ven Dhammananda, Ven Kim Beng and Ven Keng Ang. This award does not carries any honorific title. Meaning no "Datuk" in front of the recipient name.
 
There were other senior monks who had passed on and known to have been conferred royal state or national awards. Ven Dr K Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera was awarded Johan Setia Mahkota (JSM) from His Majesty Yang DiPertuan Agong in 1991. The late abbot of Petaling Jaya  Kwan Yin Teng, Ven Keng Ang awarded JSM in 1995, and the former Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) president Ven Seck Kim Beng was also awarded JSM by His Majesty YDP Agong.

Not sure about the other two monks but the late Ven Dr K Sri Dhammananda who was the then Chief High Priest of Malaysia and Singapore and Chief Incumbent of the Buddhist Maha Vihara  did not attend the conferment ceremony at the Istana Negara but the JSM award was presented to him at the Buddhist Vihara by a palace official.

A conferment ceremony at the palace is full of grandeur especially when full palace protocol are observed. As ordinary layman who is still very much attached to worldly sights and experience, it is an opportunity and experience that forms part of life journey in. How often will one missed a palace ceremony to receive an award from the King or Sultan's if given the opportunity? Unless there are more critical matters to attend to or need to be taken for considerations, for sure not many layman will give it a miss.

Pingat Pangkuan Negara (PPN) awarded to the 80+ years old teacher by the YDP Agong

In one of the conferment ceremony that I attended few years ago at the Istana Negara (King's Palace), there was one 80+ years old  former teacher who was awarded smiliar award that I received that year.  Even though the award was one of the lowest level of recognition in the awards hierachy, the old man in full lounge suit and black leather shoes strived and walks slowly to the throne to accept the medal. That's really a recognition and well deserving medal for him. I am sure it was a happy and proud moment for him and his family. - Loka


Note:
As per palace protocol, every awards recipient are expected to follow official dress code as prescribed in the palace guideline issued to every recipient before the ceremony. Layman are expected to wear baju Melayu or either full dark lounge suit with collared white shirt and black leather shoes. There is also another category of attire that can be worn, which is based on the official ceremonial attire of the person's occupation or position like those in the defence or government services. Elected officials and those with honorific titles will be donning their official attire.  Foreign diplomats are expected to wear their official dress.