KUALA LUMPUR: Former Chief Justice of Malaysia, Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, has been conferred an Honorary Degree in recognition of her services and contributions to the country.
The alumnus of the university was conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, who is also the chancellor of Universiti Malaya, during the first session of its 65th Convocation Ceremony on Saturday (Nov 29).
She served in the judicial and legal service for two decades, beginning in 1986, including as a federal counsel.
She also served as special officer to the Chief Judge of Malaya and later to the Chief Justice of Malaya.
In 2019, she was appointed Chief Justice of Malaysia, marking the first time a woman had been chosen for the position since Malaysia gained independence in 1957.
He also conferred the title of Professor Emeritus on Datuk Dr Rohana Yusof, a virologist at UM.
The honour was bestowed upon Prof Dr Khoo Ee Ming (Family Medicine), Prof Dr Phrabhakaran Nambiar (Forensic Odontology and Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology), as well as Prof Datuk Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud (Epidemiology and Health Informatics).
The title was also conferred upon Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Zambri Zainuddin in Astronomy and Islamic Astronomy, and Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Hidayat Buang in Contemporary Islamic Law.
Star Media Group deputy executive editor Dr Christina Chin was also conferred a PhD for her research titled, “Malaysian Public, Users and Stakeholders’ Perception of e-Cigarettes and Vape (ECV): A Gender Analysis”.
During his royal address to the graduates, Sultan Nazrin said PhD graduates are a minority who have the determination, will and ambition, choosing to continue to
“Explore the Sahara of knowledge and continue to dive into the ocean of knowledge.”
“Use wisdom to build a more just, peaceful, prosperous and humane world,” he said.
UM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman congratulated all the graduates.
“Today is a sign of the journey that the knowledge gained has taken you to a new space of responsibility," he said, adding that 156 out of 686 Doctoral Degree graduates successfully completed their studies with Graduate on Time (G.O.T) status.
A total of 11,356 graduates will be receiving their scrolls at UM’s 65th Convocation Ceremony, which began On Nov 29 and will continue until Dec 10 - the highest number recorded since the university was established 120 years ago.
