Indonesian Minister Receives Honorary Doctorate Degree From UiTM

SHAH ALAM (Selangor, Malaysia), July 14 (Bernama) -- Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of Indonesia, Chairul Tanjung, on Sunday received an honorary doctorate in (Entrepreneurship) from Malaysia's king Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah at the commemorative convocation of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM or Mara University of Technology) here (left). The ceremony held at the Supreme Chancellor Hall, UiTM was also witnessed by Queen Tuanku Hajah Haminah. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Minister of Education, and UiTM vice-chancellor Professor Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar. Chairul Tanjung is the third international personality selected as the recipient of an UiTM honorary doctorate degree after the late Nelson Mendela in 2006 and leading scientist from Pakistan, Professor Atta-ur-Rahman, in 2011. Tuanku Abdul Halim, who is also UiTM Chancellor, said with the successful conferment of the degree, UiTM had proven its ability in establishing a network of friends across provincial and national borders to raise the prestige of the university which fought for the preservation of indigenous knowledge at the tertiary level. His Majesty said he was pleased with UiTM's leadership which had paved the way for strengthening the fraternity with their fellow Muslims across the Strait of Melaka and the South China Sea, after being long separated by political boundaries and ideologies insituted by the colonial powers centuries ago. "We believe Chairul Tanjung's leadership qualities in entrepreneurship as well as in many other fields can serve as an inspiration to UiTM students particularly for empowering entrepreneurship developed by UiTM since the start of this institution, founded over half a century ago," he added. The King also called for determination to boost the morale as a homogeneous nation and to build self-esteem through various initiatives and efforts. "I am confident that today's testimony, in this blessed month, will be translated into the beginning of the various efforts in various fields of knowledge and splay the UiTM brand beyond the borders of our beloved homeland across to Indonesia for mutual benefit," said the King. Chairul in his speech expressed gratitude to His Majesty for consenting to award the honorary doctorate degree to him. (photoBERNAMA) --BERNAMA