Latest news with #AwardsAct2017
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Don't be fooled by ‘Datuk Seri'
Lured by fake titles: Chong (front row, second from right) with a few of the victims at the press conference held at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Beware of 'Datuk Seri' asking for money. This was the warning from Datuk Seri Michael Chong, who said his office has received six reports of people being scammed by individuals claiming to have the title. One victim allegedly lost RM400,000 to a particular 'Datuk Seri' who claimed to be running an investment scheme, said Chong, who heads MCA's Public Services and Complaints Department. He urged the public to be extra cautious when approached for business deals, particularly by individuals flaunting dubious titles. 'If someone claiming to be a Datuk Seri is asking for money, that's already a red flag. 'We've received reports and a photo of a man claiming to be a Datuk Seri with 'Ahli Istana Anak Angkat' written on top of his name. 'We've checked with the Istana and there is no such title. It's completely fabricated. 'The complainants lost so much money – the amount varies, with one person investing RM400,000. One of the complainants is herself a Datin,' he said during a press conference at Wisma MCA here yesterday. Chong said the scammer in question is soliciting investments in an illegal money scheme. 'After we interviewed the victims, they admitted they were misled into trusting him because they thought his Datukship is genuine. 'They've now come forward to seek advice from us,' he said. The scammer's state of origin remains unknown, but Chong confirmed that a police report has been lodged. There have also been dubious claims made about an alleged 'Agong quota' for such titles. 'As far as we know, no such quota exists,' he said. The public can verify the legitimacy of honorific titles through the Bahagian Istiadat dan Urusetia Persidangan Antarabangsa website ( 'Key in the name and if the person truly holds a Datuk title, it will appear. If you're unsure, you can also contact us or Majlis Datuk-Datuk Malaysia (MDDM) for verification.' He said Majlis Datuk Persekutuan Malaysia (MDPM) and MDDM are actively addressing this issue, stressing that impersonating titleholders is a serious offence. 'People don't just misuse the 'Datuk' title, but also 'Datuk Seri' and 'Tan Sri'. So far, no scammer has claimed to be a 'Tun' yet,' Chong added. He said MDDM has been pushing for amendments to Awards Act 2017 (Act 787) to empower police to take swifter action against individuals using fraudulent titles. 'We've been advocating this for years. We understand the proposed changes have gone through the Attorney General's Chambers, and though the process is slow, it is progressing.'
Barnama
5 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Public Warned Against Fake 'Datuk Seri' Titles Used In Investment Scams
KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- At least six individuals have fallen victim to scams involving the misuse of the 'Datuk Seri' title, with total losses estimated at nearly half a million ringgit, says MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong. He said one of the reports involved a man falsely claiming to be an 'Ahli Istana Anak Angkat' to gain the trust of victims and solicit investments, including a case where a Datin lost RM400,000. 'We've checked with the Istana and there is no such title. It's completely fabricated,' he told a press conference at Wisma MCA here today. Chong said three of the six cases were business-related scams while the others were enquiries — some from overseas — to verify the legitimacy of individuals claiming to hold honorific titles. He added that the scammer had exploited public events and official functions by placing his name and image among VIPs and ministers to boost credibility. Meanwhile, Majlis Datuk Persekutuan Malaysia (MDPM) president Datuk Alvin Tee Guan Pian reminded the public that federal titles were only awarded to those who had made significant contributions to the nation. 'Fake titleholders often use these credentials to secure business deals and contracts. The Securities Commission takes illegal investment schemes seriously, and offenders can be charged in court,' he said. Separately, the President of Majlis Datuk Dato' Malaysia (MDDM), Datuk Samson David Maman, has urged the relevant parties to expedite proposed amendments to the Awards Act 2017 (Act 787) to curb the misuse of honorific titles. "It's going internally. But we know there are many proposed amendments across various acts. Ours is just one of them. Time will come when we are on the priority list,' he said at the same press conference.
