A GENERATION of 'fake elites' will evolve if scams like selling fake PhDs and Datukships are not countered, said Malaysia's Information, Communications and Culture Minister.

Dr Rais Yatim warned that the situation has become serious.

His remarks, reported in Utusan Malaysia, came after calls for such selling and buying of 'express' PhDs and Datuk titles to be considered a crime.

Some want the relevant agencies to come up with a solution to stop the selling of such titles and degrees.

Dr Rais urged the authorities to investigate immediately those suspected of having bought titles as their actions are akin to cheating.

He told Utusan Malaysia: 'I'm aware of some young leaders who have such coveted PhD titles which doesn't seem to be recognised, and I urge the authorities to investigate them because this is tantamount to cheating the public.'

He felt that there are many others, with leadership positions, who may have bought such 'express PhDs'.

The minister did not name the suspects.

Dr Rais went further to say that even titles such as Datuk or Datuk Seri can be bought.

Such titles symbolise an honour bestowed on those who have a good track record of service to the community.

The final say on who should be conferred the award is decided by the Royal Council.

Dr Rais joked: 'Only the Tan Sri title has not been mass produced.'

The selling of such titles have been detected for about a decade now, he said.

As a result, Dr Rais said, the image of such titles are tainted.

Deserving

He told the Malay-language daily: 'Where previously, titles such as Datuk are bestowed upon those deserving - those who have served the King or contributed to the nation, now these titles are treated like a commercial product to be bought and sold.'

Dr Rais felt drastic action may be needed to eradicate the problem, if the law on cheating cannot be modified to include the buying of such titles.

Utusan Malaysia recently reported that many people had been conned by a syndicate offering titles conferred by the Sulu Sultanate - a claim refuted by the Sultanate officials.

The syndicate was found to have been operating in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru for the past four years.

He said: 'This syndicate is asking for RM20,000 ($8,000) to RM100,000 from those who want the 'Datuk' title.

This article was first published in The New Paper.