IT took Daim Zainuddin 11 years to complete his doctorate, but the former Council of Eminent Persons chairman believes there is no time limit to attaining knowledge.

Today, the 81-year-old political veteran was honoured with a PhD in Literature and Social Sciences at Universiti Malaya’s 59th Convocation, which was graced by UM Chancellor Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.

“I started way back in 2008, from when I was walking without a stick, when I was healthy… and today, I am not so healthy any more.

“As long as we live, we must continue to learn. It is the recipe for success. Knowledge must be used for good things, not bad things.

“Of course, there were many challenges – being sick, not being able to see as clearly as before. This was part of the reason I took so long. Plus, I had other things to do. So, I studied part-time.”

On what motivated him to pursue a PhD in his golden years, Daim said he decided to return to academia after giving numerous lectures on the New Economic Policy.

“I did a lot of research, and the best place to do it was at university. So, I took up a course and came to the university twice a week to do research.”

He added that he hopes his thesis can help the government in its own research. – October 12, 2019.