Cyberjaya: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Humanity by Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) today as tribute to his vision and achievements in transforming Malaysia during his 22 years of premiership.

“To talk about Tun Dr Mahathir is easy. There is so much that he has done. His footprints are literally everywhere in this country. You will also find his footprints in other countries,” said the university’s founder-president Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Lim Kok Wing at the conferment ceremony.

“But to pay tribute to such an extraordinary person calls for more than an extraordinary effort.”

In crediting Mahathir for being instrumental in the liberalisation of private education, Lim said it was the catalyst that enabled Malaysia to become a regional hub of education, leading to the university becoming a globalised player in tertiary education.

Mahathir was one of three icons conferred with the doctorate by the university. Other recipients were former South African president Nelson Mandela in June 2008 and former Botswana president Dr Festus G. Mogae in February 2008.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak was conferred the Honorary Doctorate of Social Transformation in April 2008.