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The Star
a day ago
- The Star
‘Datuk Seri' scam suspect a no-show
Paper trail: Chong (left) and Hamzah (centre) showing off copies of documents from the 'Datuk Seri' during a press conference at Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: The plot has thickened in the case of a so-called 'Datuk Seri' accused of swindling people of thousands of ringgit, with the man himself 'volunteering' to reveal his identity publicly. 'He promised yesterday (Sunday) to prove his identity at today's press conference. 'But he changed his mind at the last minute and said he had been hospitalised and could not be present,' said MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong. Chong said the man had earlier contacted his office, indicating that he wanted to attend the press conference to clear his name. 'But later, he said he couldn't come due to high blood pressure.' Last Friday, Chong had convened a press conference, saying that he had received six reports from people claiming to have been scammed by a person claiming to be a 'Datuk Seri', who supposedly runs an investment scheme. One victim is said to have lost RM400,000 to the man in question. Another victim is said to be a Datin. Following the exposure, Chong said the individual uploaded a copy of his identity card and related documents on his social media to clear his name. 'He also threatened legal action against me and the Council of Datuk Dato' Malaysia (MDDM),' he told reporters yesterday. However, Chong said they had no intention of apologising. 'If he truly holds the title, he should come forward and prove its authenticity. 'He claims to be a Datuk Seri with the description 'Ahli Istana Anak Angkat' above his name. But is that legitimate?' he asked. Chong also showed a copy of an identity card allegedly of the man's partner, who referred to herself as 'Putri'. He urged others who may have fallen victim to the scam to lodge their own police reports. MDDM president Datuk Samson David Maman said the council had received calls from another two individuals claiming they were deceived by the same person. 'We regularly receive complaints about bogus Datuk or Datuk Seri. We urge the public to verify any such claims through the official Bahagian Istiadat dan Urusetia Persidangan Antarabangsa website,' he said. Datuk Hamzah Limin, the Datuk Lembaga Suku Biduanda Raja Balang Luak Johol, reiterated that traditional titles under the Luak Johol jurisdiction are only valid if recommended by the Datuk Undang Johol and officially conferred by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan at Istana Besar Seri Menanti. 'Any conferment carried out outside of official state ceremonies – such as in hotels or private venues – is not valid,' he said. Hamzah also warned the public against the misuse of traditional symbols and titles, noting that some individuals have used unauthorised emblems, forged documents and royal-style language such as 'Duli Yang Maha Mulia'. 'No titles such as 'anak angkat', 'puteri' or 'putera' have been issued by the Datuk Undang. The public must remain alert to avoid being misled,' he said.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Fake Datuk titles: Undang Luak Johol sounds legal warning
KUALA LUMPUR: The office of the Johol ruling chief (Balai Undang Luak Johol) said today that three individuals were found misusing false Datukship titles, supported by forged documents and fake palace membership cards. The administration confirmed that all credentials associated with them were fabricated and hold no legal standing. "The conferment of state honours, orders, and medals can only be granted by the Yang dipertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, during His Majesty's official birthday celebration at Istana Besar Seri Menanti," it said in a letter seen by NST. The office also said that state honours can only be conferred by Tuanku Muhriz during official ceremonies held at Istana Besar Seri Menanti. It said it would pursue legal action against those found misusing its name, emblems, or titles without consent. "Any event held outside the palace — be it in hotels or halls — is invalid," Datuk Lembaga Tiang Balai YM Datuk Raja Balang Hamzah Limin told reporters. He added that since the appointment of the 15th Undang Luak (chieftan), Datuk Muhammad Abdullah, in 2016, no titles have been issued by the office. "We do not issue terms like 'Putri' or 'royal adopted child' — even the Undang's own children do not use such titles," he said. The Council of Federal Datuks (MDPM) and the Council of Datuk Dato' Malaysia (MDDM) said the misuse of royal titles is on the rise and poses a serious threat to the credibility of Malaysia's honours system. MDDM legal advisor Datuk Rajpal Singh said the individuals violated multiple laws, including the Emblems and Names Act 1963, the Emblems and Uniforms Act 2017, and provisions of the Penal Code related to forgery. MDPM president Datuk Alvin Tee said more such cases are likely, while MDDM president Datuk Samson Maman urged the National Registration Department to investigate possible misuse of government-issued IDs.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Alleged 'Datuk Seri' scam claims more victims in Kuala Lumpur
KUALA LUMPUR: Two more individuals are believed to have fallen victim to a scam involving a man falsely claiming to hold the honorific title of "Datuk Seri." Two days ago, MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong revealed that his office had received six reports from individuals who were allegedly scammed by a person posing as a "Datuk Seri." One victim reportedly lost RM400,000 to the individual, who claimed to be running an investment scheme. Chong mentioned that the man in question had previously contacted his office and requested a press conference to clear his name, but later withdrew, citing health concerns. "He claimed he couldn't attend due to high blood pressure," Chong told reporters at a press conference held at Wisma MCA on Monday (July 28). Following the exposure of the alleged scam, Chong said the individual had threatened legal action against both him and the Council of Datuk-Datuk Malaysia (MDDM). "We have no intention of apologising. If he truly holds the title, he should come forward and prove its authenticity. He claims to be a 'Datuk Seri' with the phrase 'Ahli Istana Anak Angkat' above his name - but is that legitimate?' Chong questioned. Chong also displayed a copy of an identity card allegedly belonging to the man's partner, who referred to herself as "Putri," noting that the listed residential address was linked to the title "Undang Luak Johol Ke-14." He said the documents would be submitted to the Datuk Lembaga Suku Biduanda Raja Balang Luak Johol for verification. Chong urged others who may have fallen victim to the scam to lodge police reports. MDDM president Datuk Samson David Maman said the council had also received two calls from individuals claiming they were deceived by the same person, although the victims had yet to come forward. "We regularly receive complaints about bogus 'Datuk' or 'Datuk Seri' titles. We urge the public to verify any such claims through the official Bahagian Istiadat dan Urusetia Persidangan Antarabangsa website," he said. Meanwhile, Datuk Hamzah Limin, the Datuk Lembaga Suku Biduanda Raja Balang Luak Johol, reiterated that traditional titles under the Luak Johol jurisdiction are only valid if recommended by the Datuk Undang Johol and officially conferred by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan at Istana Besar Seri Menanti. "Any conferment carried out outside of official state ceremonies—such as in hotels or private venues—is not valid," he stressed. Hamzah also warned the public against the misuse of traditional symbols and titles, noting that some individuals have used unauthorised emblems, forged documents, and royal-style language such as "Duli Yang Maha Mulia," which is reserved exclusively for the state ruler. He added that such acts are now punishable under existing laws. "No titles such as 'anak angkat', 'puteri', or 'putera' have been issued by the current Datuk Undang. The public must remain alert to avoid being misled," he said.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Datuk councils sound alarm on rise of fake titles
KUALA LUMPUR: A man claiming to be a "Datuk Seri" is under scrutiny for possibly using a fake title to boost his public image. The Council of Federal Datuks (MDPM) and the Council of Datuk Dato' Malaysia (MDDM) held a joint press conference at Wisma MCA yesterday to sound the alarm over a rise in fake titles in the country. MDPM president Datuk Iskandar Abd Malik said his council recently received reports of a man suspected of falsely using a "Datuk Seri" title during public events. He was allegedly listed as an "honorary adviser" for a charity dinner. He was described on the event's poster as a "Datuk Seri" and a "royal adopted son". MDPM executive committee member Datuk Seri Michael Chong said in the first half of the year, his council had received six complaints on fake titles. "People have been duped into investing money after being misled by individuals flaunting false titles, only to realise the deception after suffering financial losses. "In one case, the losses amounted to RM400,000," the MCA veteran said. MDDM secretary-general Datuk Samson David Maman, who has served as an adviser for years, said he had never heard of a title like "royal adopted son" and believed it was fabricated to mislead the public. "Titles such as Datuk, Datuk Seri, Tan Sri or Tun are conferred on people who have made significant contributions to the nation or society. This is why such titles are respected and highly regarded." He said fraudsters often use fake titles or falsely claim royal ties to gain public trust and promote their investment schemes. In a related development, the alleged "Datuk Seri" has come forward and denied allegations of using a fake title. China Press reported that the man said the accusations had damaged his reputation and called on those responsible to issue a public apology. The man claimed he was conferred a title in 2015, but had kept a low profile over the past decade while quietly engaging in charity work. He claimed he began to use the title recently after finding success in his business. Chong responded today, saying that the council would not apologise. He said if this man believed the accusations were unfounded, he was welcome to submit official documentation on his title for verification.
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.'
