Malacca Doles Out 95 Datukships. Ali Rustam's Umno Election Campaign Has Apparently Begun

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak heads the list of 1,183 state award and medal recipients on the occasion of the 69th birthday of Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Khalil Yaakob tomorrow.

Najib and Khalil's wife, Toh Puan Zurina Kassim, are recipients of "Darjah Utama Negeri Melaka (DUNM)", which carries the "Datuk Seri Utama" title.

Three ministers -- Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz (International Trade and Industry), Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar (Foreign) and Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid (Natural Resources and Environment) -- have been conferred "Darjah Gemilang Seri Melaka (DGSM)", which carries the "Datuk Seri" title.

The awards and medals will be conferred at an investiture to be held on Oct 27 and 29 at Seri Negeri in Ayer Keroh.

State Secretary Datuk Wira Ismail Saleh said Najib would receive his award in a special investiture. The date and place will be decided later.

Five people receive "Darjah Cemerlang Seri Melaka (DCSM), which carries the "Datuk Wira" title. They are Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Husin, State Executive Councillor Datuk Hamdin Abdollah, Veteran Umno Club vice-chairman Datuk Jaafar Hamzah, TNB senior vice-president Datuk Md Sidek Ahmad and Melaka High Court Judge Mohtarudin Baki.

This year 85 people have been honoured with "Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM)" that carries "Datuk" title, an increase of 16 from 69 last year. For the full report from Bernama click HERE.

***** Interestingly six Umno state assemblymen from outside Malacca, i.e. Kelantan, Terengganu, Johor, Penang and Perak have been bestowed the "Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM)" which carries the "Datuk" title. What have these people done for Malacca? Or have they at least made some significant and meaningful contribution to Malaysian society? As I see it their only contribution would be to garner votes for Malacca CM Mohd Ali Rustam when the elections for Umno Vice-President gets going. A political quid pro quo made possible by the indiscriminate misuse of state awards.

And 20% 0r 17 DMSM awards went to businessmen of whom nine are Chinese. How much did they 'donate' to get the titles and to WHOM did the small fortune collected go to?

Wonderful things, Malacca state awards. It's a win-win situation both for the recipients and the bugger who has the final say in the selection. Some of you will observe Hari Raya today, but Ali Rustam will celebrate it in style when he wins the Umno V-P post, thanks to that magic campaign potion called datukships.

To All Muslim readers of this blog, Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
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