Saudi's King Salman conferred UM's honorary doctorate

The King of Saudi Arabia received the honorary degree from UM Chancellor, the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah, in a special convocation ceremony at Dewan Tunku Canselor of the prestigious university, which is the oldest in the country.

UM vice-chancellor Tan Sri Professor Dr Mohd Amin Jalaluddin, when reading the citation of conferment, said: " UM is honoured to name King Salman as the recipient of the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in appreciation of His Majesty's contribution, especially in the development of the ummah and universal humanity".

King Salman is here since yesterday on a four-day state visit to Malaysia on the invitation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.

It is King Salman's maiden visit to Malaysia since ascending the throne on Jan 23, 2015 as the seventh King of Saudi Arabia.

In a statement issued by UM on the conferment of the honorary degree to King Salman, Dr Mohd Amin said it is hoped that it could strengthen the good relations between the two countries in the field of research and exchange of academic staff.

"It is expected to open a new chapter in the relation which has long been forged between local institutions of higher learning and in Saudi Arabia," he added.