UUM confers honorary doctorate on Abdullah

(The Star) ALOR SETAR: Former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will receive an honorary doctorate in democratic philosophy from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).

UUM vice-chancellor Tan Sri Dr Nordin Kardi said the PhD would be presented to Abdullah by UUM chancellor, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, in a special ceremony at the unveristy’s campus in Sintok on July 17.

He said the Kedah Sultan had consented for the PhD to be presented to Abdullah.

Dr Nordin said the UUM senate decided to award Abdullah for his contribution in upholding democratic principles during his tenure as prime minister.

“It will be the first time UUM will award an honorary doctorate for democratic philosophy,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

Nordin said the unversity had given out honorary doctorates to 34 people since 1988.

He said the recipients included former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who was awarded the honorary doctorate in development management in 2004 and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s mother, Tun Rahah Mohd Noah, who received an honorary doctorate in education early this year.