Using titles and positions unashamedly to impress others

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ALTHOUGH a private limited company (Sendirian Berhad) can have only one director/shareholder, most have two or more directors who may or may not own shares in the company.

Many controlling shareholders designate themselves as the managing director, including those running new or small businesses.

However, titles and positions are insignificant or irrelevant to me. What counts is the volume of business and number of employees. A manager of a large corporation could easily be handling a much greater volume of business and workers than a managing director or general manager of a small company.

A good example is the travel trade. About 80% of the 5,535 travel and tour companies, including branches, are small and micro enterprises with no more than a handful of employees. The owners or senior staff are fond of calling themselves managing directors, general managers, vice presidents, or chief executive officers.

A few honest owners admitted that they paid to get their official Datuk title, while others could use titles that they never received or from unrecognised states.

In any case, I greatly respect anyone who is courteous regardless of his or her social standing or financial position, and stay away from hypocrites and pretenders.

Then there are those who use the Dr title like a medical doctor. It is all well and good if the PhD was awarded by a recognised university and the holder has done research or gained expertise benefiting an industry or society. But not so for many PhDs awarded by local public universities, which are more like degree mills to fulfill KPIs.

There are also politicians that inappropriately use the Dr title after being bestowed honorary PhDs.

Finally, some would spend money to buy a PhD certificate from a dubious university, or even go through a lengthy process of submitting documents, being interviewed by a panel, and culminating in a certificate presentation ceremony.

Many people like to impress others and enjoy bragging rights. However, I would suffer if I had a Tan Sri, Datuk or Dr title but do not have enough money to live commensurately.

I would be much happier to be an ordinary Joe, free to do what I like, with just enough to live comfortably, without the need to seek validation from others.

It can be frustrating if one is unable to live the desired lifestyle, particularly the wealthy or those with honorific titles, including those with ill gotten gains.

Unable to bear and in moments of indiscretion, their past activities could be exposed and get the attention of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. ‒ Nov 13, 2025

 

YS Chan is master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course and an Asean Tourism Master Trainer. He is also a tourism and transport business consultant.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.

 

Main image: AP

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