Unpad to award Mahathir honorary doctorate

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohammad will receive an honorary doctorate from Indonesia's state-run Padjajaran University (Unpad) in Bandung, West Java, next month, it was announced on Wednesday.

Unpad spokesman Hadi Suprapto Arifin said Mahathir had confirmed his willingness to accept the degree when university rector Himendra Wargahadibrata visited the ex-prime minister at his home in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

Mahathir is scheduled to receive the degree on Feb. 6.

Hadi said Mahathir deserved the honorary degree for his sound economic policies when running the Malaysian administration.

"Mahathir's economic policies put emphasis on independence by combining the role of the government and private sector," Hadi added.

The decision to confer the honorary doctorate was not politically motivated, he said, arguing that Mahathir was no longer in power.

Hadi said that the conferment would be held in an open ceremony led by the Unpad rector at the university's Sanusi Hardjadinata Hall on Jl. Dipati Ukur, Bandung.

Mahathir will also meet the Malaysian Students Association at Preanger Hotel in Bandung.

After visiting Bandung, the former prime minister is scheduled to head to Jakarta to attend other events.