Steven Sim

The Saga of the Dato’s

December 2nd, 2008 | 3 Comments | Posted in Community, Govt & Politics, Malaysia

Stories from the high society of Dato-Dato (Malaysia’s equivalent to “Sir”, I guess) for the past week…

Dato’ Zaid Ibrahim, the famed founding partner of ZICO and an UMNO member, attended PKR National Congress and (with lesser press coverage) the 10,000-guest Penang DAP Victory Dinner last week.

Dato’ Yong Teck Lee, President of SAPP, BN’s [former?] component party in Sabah, also attended PKR National Congress last week.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin, UMNO’s Vice President, has condemned Zaid’s action of sinning against UMNO by attending at the PKR National Congress as unforgivable

Dato’ M. Kayveas, President of PPP, another BN’s component party, threatened to pull out of BN during PPP’s Youth and Wanita meet this week.

Dato’ Arif Shah, UMNO’s State Assemblyman for Seberang Jaya has indicated that the chances of him quiting UMNO to join the Pakatan Rakyat is 30%. The 30% share ada naik hari ini Dato?

Dato’ Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek, MCA Deputy President, said in a public lecture last week that the concept of Ketuanan Melayu (Malay Supremacy) has become unacceptable.

Dato’ Seri Ong Tee Keat, MCA President, quickly come out in the press to say that his deputy’s stance is his (Dr. Chua’s) personal view and did not reflect MCA’s stance and that the deputy has no right to make statements on behalf of the party. But another press reported that Ong was actually “glad that my deputy has echoed what I and my predecessor had said months ago”. Which of course, leaves Dr. Chua confused and wondering…

Dato’ Mukhriz Mahatir was reported in the Star today calling for the abolishment of vernacular schools system (read: close down Chinese, Tamil schools – does that include the Religious schools?). Dato Seri Ong Tee Keat, the “lone ranger” hero of MCA said, “crap!”…no, I am joking. Ong said, and I quote coz it’s very short: “Datuk Mukhriz is just one of the many who are now repeating the same polemics that are a few decades old, simple because of the advent of their party’s poll. It is saddening because politicians cannot think out of the box”. Dato Mukhriz is “one”, I wonder who are the “many”. Are they from UMNO as well, Dato Seri?

And for a happy ending…

Last week, Penang’s Dato Nicol David has scored a perfect 10, winning 10 consecutive tournaments this year to close 2008 with a bang! Syabas, Dato!

His Royal Highness Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, the Sultan of Selangor has announced that this year, he will not award the state Dato-ship to politicans, whether from the ruling Pakatan Rakyat or the Opposition BN.

Daulat Tuanku! His Royal Highness is giving the Rakyat a break from these errr..quoting Dr. Chuah Soi Lek, “monkeys”.

And a photo…

Dato’ Ong Poh Eng, Penang’s leading sports personality, Malaysia jury to Beijing Olympic 2008 in weight-lifting, at the 2008 Majlis Dato-Dato Pulau Pinang dinner.

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Tags: Dato, Dato Seri

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3 Responses to “The Saga of the Dato’s”

wmsiew Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Hey there..

Thank you for your support of our dear Datuk Nicol!

Malaysia Boleh!!!
Bob K Says:
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I’ve heard of grandmother stories but this is a nice collection of grandfather stories
Steven Sim Says:
December 4th, 2008 at 7:56 am
Bob, I think so too…hahahaha….our “grand-daddies” never fail to put up a good comedy for the whole Country!

wmsiew, great job u are doing at nicol’s site. Keep it up!

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About Steven Sim

I am a true-blood Penang "kia" (son of Penang) who love everything about my beautiful home-state, well, almost everything. :) Formerly I served as the Special Assistant to the Penang State Executive Councillor (State-level ministerial post) in charge of Youth and Sports. I am now pursuing an MA in Philosophy at a local university. I am also the Executive Secretary of the Network of Social Democracy in Asia (www.socdem.asia) and sit on the committee of the State-sponsored Good Governance and Gender Equality Society (3Gs). Since 2007, I also served in various capacities in the office of the Hon' Madam Chong Eng, a leading Malaysian woman Parliamentarian. Politically, I had the privilege to help manage four successful political campaigns since 2007 and was involved in planning, campaigning and monitoring of eight state and federal level elections in Malaysia. I am engaged with the love of my life, Jorin. Both of us worship at the Bukit Mertajam Gospel Centre.

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