Ohio University has a new honorary alumnus: the prime minister of Malaysia.
Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak received an honorary doctor of humane letters Jan. 15 in a ceremony held in conjunction with the 9th Tun Abdul Razak Lecture.
Named for the current prime minister’s father, the lecture is a highlight of a unique 32-year partnership between OHIO and the Malaysian government. That partnership also includes the Tun Abdul Razak Chair, an endowed faculty position at Ohio University that works to foster cross-cultural understanding of Malaysia-American perspectives.
Among the 350-plus guests at the event were Paul Jones, U.S. ambassador to Malaysia, and the Malaysian Minister of Higher Education, Dato’ Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin.
Reading Najib’s award citation, Interim Executive Director of the Center for International Studies Ming Li said the doctorate was given in recognition of Najib’s contributions to and leadership and influence in education, as well as his clear and distinctive commitment to the democratization, modernization and transformation of Malaysia.
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