I refer to the letter Number of Datuks needs to be controlled. Those who have got the title 'Datuk' must surely find it odd for them to carry these titles before their names since most of them are individuals who are not registered in the minds of many. On the contrary, there are quite a few others who do not have such titles but who are well-known by many in Malaysia, despite not having any honorific titles before their names.

So, those who are clinging onto their 'Datuks' and 'Tan Sris' especially must feel embarrassed that despite having honorific titles, they are still insignificant. However, I really don't care how many Datuks, Tan Sris and Tunships one has as long as they do not exhibit them.

To solve the problem with the awarding of honorific titles in Malaysia, I suggest that those who have received them can retain them but without calling themselves a 'Datuk' or a 'Tan Sri' until they are 55 years of age. As for the 'Tuns', they must wait till they are 65 years before they can call themselves a 'Tun'.

It is hoped that those who have become older will over the years will prove to the Malaysian public that they are worthy recipients of these titles. As such, perhaps those who habitually give such titles and other major state awards must now start to ensure that only Malaysians who have performed up to the world or international standards are given them.

This is opposed to those who are the 'first Malaysian' or 'first Asian man or woman' to do this or that who are often given such medals after they have swum, run, walked on ice or gone to outer space. But such achievements are personal feats and are nothing to shout about, especially now.