Banyaknya Datuk

For the record, here are the number of Datuks and JPs awarded in Sabah from 1985 to 2003

Year Datuk JP Chief Minister
1985 3 12 Datuk Seri Pairin
1986 11 7 Datuk Seri Pairin
1987 15 6 Datuk Seri Pairin
1988 13 8 Datuk Seri Pairin
1989 15 5 Datuk Seri Pairin
1990 29 5 Datuk Seri Pairin
1991 24 12 Datuk Seri Pairin
1992 36 8 Datuk Seri Pairin
1993 20 10 Datuk Seri Pairin
1994 53 17 Tun Sakaran
1995 24 11 Datuk Seri Salleh Said
1996 49 24 Datuk Seri Salleh Said
1997 47 24 Datuk Yong Teck Lee
1998 53 8 Datuk Yong Teck Lee
1999 28 6 Datuk Osu Sukam
2000 36 5 Datuk Osu Sukam
2001 26 4 Datuk Chong Kah Kiat
2002 57 8 Datuk Chong Kah Kiat
2003 28 7 Datuk Seri Musa Aman

The most number of Datuks (57) was given out during Datuk Chong Kah Kiat's second year as Chief Minister. Among them was his brother-in-law, Lee Chuan Wan. Two others which caused a lot of anger in Tawau were Liew Yun Fah and Thien Kok Poh.

Datuk Yong Teck Lee and Tun Sakaran were second on the list with 53 datukships each given away in 1998 and 1994 respectively.

Yong however recorded a total number of 96 datuks during his two year term as the Chief Minister from 1997 to 1998. Chong Kah Kiat was second with 83 Datuks.

During Datuk Salleh's term, a total of 35 JPs were awarded.

A total of 401 datuks and 114 Justice of Peace were given out since Barisan Nasional ruled Sabah from 1994. This is a big difference compared to 166 Datuks and 73 JPs during Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) lead by Datuk Seri Pairin.

What is the indication? I leave it to you to ponder.