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".