In Malaysia like with Brunei, it is always very common to use honorary titles and names. The whole of these titles is rather complex. They can be granted indifferently to the men and to the women, but each title has a form declined for the joint one. However, this form will not be granted to the husband of a woman holding a title. A woman will bear the same name of title as a man.

The current name which should be employed to address themselves or write formally is the following one:

Titrate Honorary, Row University or Military, Title Royal, Title, Doctor (of medicine or literature), Hadji/Hajjah (For the Moslems which achieved the Hajj), name

Ex: Dato Seri Abdullah bin Hadji Ahmad Badawi (current the Prime Minister of Malaysia) Yang Berbahagia Profesor Datuk Dr. Hjh Name

Royal titles

- Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the Malaysian supreme title, often translated by King, is granted to the sultan elected by his 8 pars for one five years period. - Yang di-Pertuan Negara is the official title of the Sultan of Brunei. This title was also used in Singapore until its independence in 1965, date from which the title became President. - Yang di-Pertua Negeri is not a royal title, but represents Governeur of a State which does not make party of a royal family. - Sultan

Federal titles

The following titles can be granted by Yang di-Pertuan Agong. They are honorary and nonhereditary. Limit on the number of owner excluded the honorary rewards granted the abroads.

Tun

Tun is the not-royal title highest. The number of Tun is limited to 25 holding alive to the same moment. The woman of a Tun is called Toh Puan . The last titles of Tun granted (At the date of June 2005) in Malaysia were it with the former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad and with his wife, Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.

This distinction is granted only to the Malaysian citizens, but the foreigners can receive an honorary distinction and use this title locally. The number from holding abroad of this distinction does not appear in the calculation limits of the 25.

Tan Sri

Tan Sri is the second title in the order and is limited to 75 holding alive. The woman of a Tan Sri is called Puan Sri .

This distinction is granted only to the Malaysian citizens, but the foreigners can receive an honorary distinction and use this title locally. The number from holding abroad of this distinction does not appear in the calculation limits of the 75.

Datuk

The titles of Datuk are conferred by the federal government since 1965 and is limited to approximately 200 people. The woman of a Datuk is called Datin .

This distinction is granted only to the Malaysian citizens, but the foreigners can receive an honorary distinction and use this title locally. The number from holding abroad of this distinction does not appear in the calculation limits of the 200.

Other titles

Syed is a man directly going down from the Prophet Mahomet (by blood). The downward ones are called Sharifah.

Tuan is equivalent to Maître. This title became obsolete because of a connotation too féodale.*

Encik is equivalent to Mister.

Puan is equivalent to Madam.

Cik is equivalent to Miss.

_________________________________________________________ * " Tuan" is frequently used.

" Encik" definitely more formal and is used more in Indonesia.

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