Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan's fan base and the fact that his blockbuster 'Police Story' was filmed in Kuala Lumpur earned him a datukship, Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor said.

 

"Jackie Chan is an actor with many Malaysian fans and can promote Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur especially, so he definitely qualifies for a datukship.

 

"Many forget that the popular movie ‘Police Story’ which he starred in was shot in Kuala Lumpur," Tengku Adnan said on Twitter .

 

Posting a photo still of the movie, the minister repeated Jackie's vast contribution to the nation through that one popular action thriller.

“Jacky Chan, thank you for receiving the award. Don't forget Kuala Lumpur.”

 

“We love Dato Jacky … I am sure Malaysia is in your heart,” he tweeted again.

 

The 1992 film 'Police Story 3: Super Cop' starring Chan and Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, a  ‘tan sri’, was filmed in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur and Brisbane.

'Don't devalue datukships'

 

Chan was conferred the award in conjunction with Federal Territories Day yesterday, to raised eyebrows.

 

Among those questioning the move was actor Afdlin Shauki.

 

"Don't get me wrong, I love Jackie Chan but a datukship mean jack s**t to him. What is a datukship on the international stage?

 

"For a Malaysian, we know it is a great honour to be bestowed (not bought), a datukship.

 

"It would mean a lot again if these datukships were conferred on Malaysians who actually made the country proud for their contributions to the country," he said on Facebook .

 

For example, he said these awards should be conferred to those who risked their lives in the flood relief efforts.

 

"Make these datukships mean something again!"

 

Chan is not the only international star to be conferred a datukship.

 

Bollywood idol Shah Rukh Khan was conferred an award by Malacca in 2008, to similar criticism.

 

Then-chief minister Mohd Ali Rustam defended the move by saying that the heartthrob filmed the movie 'One 2 Ka 4' at A Famosa Resort in Ayer Keroh in 2001, claiming it boosted tourism.