Malaysia's Head of State confers Jackie Chan as "Datuk" on Federal Territories Day. (Photo : The Rakyat Post)
Aside from being Hong Kong's kung fu superstar, Jackie Chan now holds the title of being a "Datuk," an honor given to a select few in Malaysia and Brunei.
According to a report from CRIEnglish, Chan was conferred by Malaysia's head of state, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah, together with 70 others during the country's Federal Territories Day on Feb. 1.
On that day, Chan bequeathed the Panglima Mahkota Wilayah award, which made him a "Datuk."
However, many criticized the honor handed to the "Rush Hour" star because there were reportedly many other Malaysians who also deserved the recognition but were not given the title.
In response, veteran Malaysian actress Fatimah Abu Bakar said in an interview with The Rakyat Post that Chan indeed deserved the honor and that people should not become "envious" of his "good fortune."
"It was a token of appreciation for all the contributions he has given to the entertainment industry. It is our country's way of saying thank you and we appreciate his talent, which many Malaysians can't get enough of," she explained.
In agreement with her statement, actor and film maker Datuk Yusof Haslam reminded those who criticize the head of state's decision to give such high honor to a non-Malaysian that this was not the first time a foreigner was conferred as Datuk.
"We've seen Shah Rukh Khan receiving this title. We've seen Michelle Yeoh, who was born and raised in Malaysia, but is actively involved in the international scene, conferred the title," he stated, adding that there is nothing wrong with honoring talents outside of the country and that one's nationality should not be a criterion when recognizing his or her valuable contributions.
