Mahathir receives Saudian award

Mahathir receives Saudian award

RIYADH (Reuter): Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Prince Khalid
presented King Faisal Foundation international awards to
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, an Iraqi scholar and
five Western scientists at a ceremony in Riyadh.

"This evening ... we celebrate the accomplishments of the
human mind," Prince Khalid bin Faisal told a packed audience of
men in traditional gold-edged robes at the Saturday night event.

Prince Khalid, son of the late King Faisal, is chairman of the
board for the annual King Faisal International Prize, first
awarded in 1979 and considered one of the most prestigious prizes
in the Arab world.

Mahathir, who arrived in the oil-rich kingdom last Friday and
performed a pilgrimage to the Moslem holy city of Mecca, received
the prize for services to Islam.

The foundation said it had awarded the prize to the Malaysian
leader because "his wisdom and moderation as prime minister of
Malaysia have reflected the magnanimity and forebearance of
Islam ... and (his) policies have fostered rapport and
cooperation between Malaysian Moslems and non-Moslems".