Datuk

Malaysia has quite a complicated system of honours and titles with some being awarded at the federal level and others at state level. Titles include Tun, Tan Sri, Datuk, Dato’ Sri, Datuk Seri and Dato’. 

Datuk is probably the most common and the old joke is that if you throw a stone into a crowd it will hit a Datuk. 

You can find a comprehensive guide to Malaysia's system of orders, decorations and medals on Wikipedia.

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AUTHOR BIO

cartoon of author with an orangutan

David (the one on the left) is the writer behind Malaysia Traveller, sharing firsthand travel advice from over five decades of living and travelling across Asia and the Middle East. Based in Malaysia since 2009 and now in Kuching, he has published 700+ pages, personally visited every place he covers, and uses only his own photos. Readers can learn more on his About Me page. He also shares updates on Facebook and YouTube. He loves uncovering overlooked places even many Malaysians have never visited.