Oleh/By  	:	DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue	:	MEIJI UNIVERSITY, JAPAN
Tarikh/Date	:	08-06-2001
Tajuk/Title 	:	THE OCCASION OF THE CONFERMENT 
			OF THE HONOURARY DOCTORATE
Versi 		:	ENGLISH
Penyampai	:  	PM
		    

   
         It is indeed an honour and privilege for me to be
   here   today   to   receive  the  Honourary   Doctorate
   conferred by Meiji University, Japan.  I wish to  thank
   the University for this Doctorate and I hope I will  be
   able  to  live up to the expectations of this scholarly
   award.
   
   2.    I  understand  that Meiji University  has  worked
   very  hard  to  become  one of  Japan's  leading  Urban
   Universities.   This  is  truly  remarkable.   I   have
   always had this soft spot for academia as I was once  a
   Minister  of Education.  Education is one of  the  most
   important  resources any country must have  to  develop
   rapidly.    In  fact  education,  especially   at   the
   university level is a significant prerequisite for  the
   growth  and  resilience  of the economy.   Universities
   must  therefore  continue to excel in  the  pursuit  of
   knowledge.   Universities have a key role  to  play  to
   fulfil  the country's needs of a professional  pool  of
   talents.
   
   3.     I  am  happy  to  note  that  the  distinguished
   recipients  before  me  have  included  a   few   Prime
   Ministers  of Japan, Canada and Poland as well  as  the
   President of Senegal.  It is therefore an honour and  a
   privilege to be in their illustrious company.
   
   4.    Thus it is with great pleasure and humility  that
   I accept this Honourary Doctorate.

   Sumber : Pejabat Perdana Menteri