GEORGE TOWN: Two recipients will be conferred Honorary Degrees in conjunction with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)'s 58th convocation ceremony next month.
Former World No 1 and three-time Olympic badminton silver medalist Datuk Wira Lee Chong Wei will be conferred the Doctor of Sports Science.
Dr David Lacey, an industry icon who contributed immensely towards the country's economic development through his expertise in the field of science, will be conferred the Doctor of Science.
USM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan said both Lee and Lacey would receive their honorary degrees from USM Chancellor Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamaluallail, who is also the Raja of Perlis, during the first session of the convocation ceremony at Istana Arau in Perlis on Thursday (Dec 2).
He said the 58th convocation ceremony would be divided into 10 sessions, with the remaining sessions to be held at USM's Dewan Tuanku Syed Putra (DTSP), from Dec 13 until Dec 21.
He added that the Raja of Perlis had consented to chairing the first session this Thursday at 10.30am at Istana Arau, where he would confer awards on five main recipients, including Lee and Lacey.
"Tuanku will also confer the Professor Emeritus title to Dr Zhari Ismail, former USM academia with vast expertise in the research of local herbs and pharmaceutical and the Professor Emerita title to Datuk Dr Asma Ismail, former USM's first woman vice-chancellor and a leading academia icon at the national level.
"Tuanku will also confer the Chancellor Gold Award to Khaw Teng Kang, the best overall students. Khaw from Selangor, will be graduating from USM's School of Electric and Electronic Engineering with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.97," he said today.
Faisal Rafiq assured that the convocation ceremony would be conducted in full compliance of the standard operating procedures (SOP).
"Only this who have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine will be allowed to participate in the convocation ceremony," he added.
Altogether, a total of 5,964 recipients will receive various degrees including Doctorates in Philosophy and Master's Degree (1,899 recipients), Bachelor's Degree (4,031 recipients) and Nursing Diploma (34 recipients).
The Raja of Perlis has consented that the second to 10th session of the convocation ceremony be chaired by USM's Pro Chancellors -- Tan Sri Dr Zulkefli A. Hassan, Tan Sri Mustafa Mansur and Tan Sri Dr. M. Jegathesan.