Lim Guan Eng has asked his fellow DAP leaders to emulate the late Ghafar Baba. The former deputy prime minister and one-time Melaka chief minister declined any honorific to which he was entitled while in office.

Ghafar was a teacher turned politician who understood what humility meant. In the time Ghafar walked the corridors of power, he remained as “Encik Ghafar Baba”.

He only accepted the “Tunship” after he retired from politics and from all positions of power.

Today, “Datukships” are being handed out like nobody’s business. The titles come a dime a dozen and in numbers that are beyond comprehension.

From people who are in their late teens to heads of organised crime. From yuppies to ah longs. From stock market manipulators to kleptocrats. From people who write to the US attorney-general to people who beat up others when they do not want to pay for a RM3 parking ticket.

The once revered title has lost its value. It is as simple as that.

When I was growing up and our family had to visit a Datuk for Hari Raya or Chinese New Year, you would be nervous. You would fear the little conversation he might have with you even if it was as simple as “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

The Datuk held sway over all and sundry and you could not help being in awe of such a distinguished person. Not any more.

This year, the federal government led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad did not confer any titles on anyone in conjunction with our Agong’s birthday celebration in September.

Sabah, which is now led by Warisan, however, created 65 new Datuks in conjunction with the TYT’s birthday.

Among them were three DAP state ministers who spent the last decade as opposition members. What they contributed to the well-being of Sabah in the six months since coming to power to earn the Datukships is questionable and leaves much to be desired.

Nonetheless, they have to bear with the public ridicule that comes with it.

Melaka too created new Datuks, five of whom were newly-minted federal ministers.

On what basis they were recognised for their contributions to society is anybody’s guess. Whether they “earned their stripes” is best left to the imagination.

But one fact remains: if there are people out there who believe that by being a Datuk you automatically command respect, you are sadly mistaken. Respect is something you earn. You cannot buy respect. Nor do you earn respect because of political patronage. At best, it’s good for the ego and it might just open certain doors for you. But it is not an exclusive door anymore as more and more Datuks join the assembly line.

At the end of the day, if it pleases you to be called Datuk so-and-so and you are happy to stick your Datukship emblem on your vehicle with the words VIP emblazoned on it, that is your choice. Whatever makes you happy, go ahead and please yourself.

The late Ghafar Baba could emit enough of an aura by simply being addressed as Encik.

That is respect in its greatest form.

Clement Stanley is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.