<figure id="attachment_3219850" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3219850" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3219850 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/29d6d6f0-council-of-datuk-dato-malaysia-president-samson-david-maman-email-pic-261125.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3219850" class="wp-caption-text">Council of Datuk Dato’ Malaysia president Samson David Maman after filing the report at the Ampang Jaya police station in Kuala Lumpur.</figcaption></figure>
KUALA LUMPUR: The Council of Datuk Dato’ Malaysia has lodged a police report over a social media influencer’s alleged use of a fake Datuk title, urging her to acknowledge the error and cease using the honorific.
The council said the influencer initially promoted herself online as Datuk Panglima Wilayah (DPW), a title that does not exist and is not listed in any official honours registry.
It said the influencer later removed the DPW posts from Facebook and Instagram but reposted a revised announcement using Panglima Mahkota Wilayah, a legitimate Federal Territory award.
However, her name does not appear in official records, and the council noted that she continues to identify herself as “Datuk Dr” on Instagram.
“We just want her to acknowledge that this should not have happened and remove all her postings. It is not proper in the eyes of the public or our royalty,” said council president Samson David Maman after filing the report at the Ampang Jaya police station today.
The council said the influencer had also claimed the award was conferred by the Imbued Impact Foundation in 2020, but checks revealed that the foundation is not officially registered and has no authority to bestow Datukships.
The foundation later issued a statement on Facebook clarifying the DPW designation is an internal honorary acknowledgement, not a Malaysian state or federal title, and advised the public to verify honours through the Government Gazette.
Samson said the shifting claims had caused public confusion. He said misusing or claiming unrecognised titles carried serious penalties under the Offences Relating to Awards Act 2017 (Act 787).
“This is a criminal offence. People should review Act 787 because the penalties can be severe,” he said, reminding the public that legitimate titles must be conferred in person by legally authorised individuals.
“Check the validity of any title. You cannot receive it by post or mail. If it is not conferred in person, it is not valid,” he said.
He said police informed the council the investigation would examine possible offences by both the influencer and the foundation.
FMT is withholding the name of the influencer pending a response.

MatchPoint Times

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