Welcome To The Land Of Titles

Malaysians crave for titles,

The way Christians love their bibles,

Look at the number of awards dished out every year,

There is no end to that I fear.

 

Titles used to be awarded with much constraint,

But they’re now given with little restraint,

No longer awarded to only people with unimpeachable integrity,

But given so perversely to every Tom, Dick and Harry.

 

The conferment of awards has become a materialistic trend,

You can buy a Datuk package for yourself and a friend,

Malaysia has become a Boleh Land,

Titles may one day be bought under an installment plan.

 

Datuk has become the butt of jokes,

Throw a stone into a crowd of ordinary folks,

Not only will it hit a Datuk,

It will ricochet and hit another Datuk.

 

Demand for titles far outstrips supply,

Titles are something money can buy,

But beware of buying a fake title,

A Sultan of Sulu title is worth little.

 

Honorary and fake academic degrees,

Issued by institutions under dubious decree,

Exemplify the epitome of human vanity,

And human needs as explained by Maslow’s hierarchy.