Pulau Betong assemblyman leads list of PhD recipients from USM
GEORGE TOWN: Being active in politics has not prevented Pulau Betong assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Farid Saad from acquiring further knowledge until he earned a PhD in Political Science from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) here, at the university’s 55th convocation ceremony.
Muhamad Farid, 54, was thankful for being able to complete his studies in USM for two and a half years.
“The political field requires me to always think about education, land ownership and entrepreneurship, so that the knowledge I acquire can be channelled to the community, and benefit them,” he said when met by reporters at USM yesterday.
The award was presented by USM Chancellor Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail in front of 574 graduates in various fields in the first session.
Muhammad Farid said during his stint in USM, he had also conducted several studies on land ownership in the state, so that it could be applied to the lives of the local community, in line with his role as a politician.
“I also researched about the land ownership of the Malays, Chinese, and Indians, with the hope that this study can be adopted by others.
Meanwhile, the third season runner up for Islamic reality show Pencetus Ummah in 2015, Taha Mohd Omar, who is better known as “PU Taha”, also received a PhD.
Taha, who completed his studies in Islamic Development Management for four years, dispelled allegations that the television personality was less concerned about education, and was in pursuit of glamour.
“For me, popularity is only temporary, but knowledge we can carry on forever. Furthermore, we can prove that we are not the ‘express ustaz’ as claimed by certain quarters,” he said.
The convocation also witnessed 24-year-old Naja Nadiara Omar as the youngest recipient of a doctorate.
Naja Nadiara who graduated in Physics, shared her joy with her family and husband who supported her throughout her endeavour.
Meanwhile, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin agriculture officer Mohd Rohaizad Md Rejab, 33, yesterday accepted a posthumous award on behalf of his wife, Zaharah Ghazali, who died of breast cancer last year. — Bernama