UNIVERSITI Tun Hussein Malaysia (UTHM) today conferred an honorary doctorate in mechanical engineering technology upon the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar. 

The award was given in recognition of the ruler’s contributions to UTHM, the people of Johor, and the nation. 

The doctorate was presented to His Majesty by his son Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail, who is also the UTHM Chancellor, on the first day of UTHM’s 23rd Convocation Ceremony at Parit Raja today. 

Also present at the ceremony was the Permaisuri of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah. 

Sultan Ibrahim was the UTHM Chancellor from 2002 to 2022, before Tunku Ismail was appointed as the new chancellor on December 3 last year.  

During Sultan Ibrahim’s nearly 20 years as UTHM chancellor, he promoted the university on the international stage through financial support and cooperation with educational institutions. 

On the 25th anniversary of UTHM, Sultan Ibrahim contributed greatly to the university by supporting the development of innovative programmes such as aeronautics, which included donating the “Lake Renegade LA-270” aircraft for the programme’s use. 

Meanwhile, UTHM vice-chancellor Prof Ruzairi Abdul Rahim, in a statement, said a total of 4,837 graduates from various levels of study would receive their scrolls in the convocation ceremony from today until Thursday. 

He said from this number, scrolls were conferred on 135 PhD graduates. 

In addition, the Best Undergraduate Project Award, UTHM Alumni Special Award (Academic Category), Malaysian Engineers Board Excellence Award, UTHM Holdings Award, and the Waqf and Endowment Award would be also given to selected graduates. 

“With the 23rd UTHM Convocation Ceremony, the number of UTHM alumni has increased to 57,895,” he said. – Bernama, December 2, 2023.