Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Creative Arts (Arts and Culture Development) in conjunction with the 15th National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (Aswara) Convocation today.

 The award was presented by ASWARA reactor, Associate Professor Sahar Sa'adi Hashim. Also present at the event was Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi.

The award is to honour Dr Mahathir for his service and sacrifice in building and preserving the arts, culture and heritage.

In the same ceremony, the Prime Minister's wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, was also conferred the honorary doctorate in Creative Arts (Creative Arts Promotion) for her immense supports as well as upholding the country’s arts and performance industry.

Aswara described this year’s ceremony as a special and meaningful occasion since the Panggung Eksperimen, which is the venue of the convocation, it was a facility officially opened by Dr Mahathir in 1994 as a showcase of heritage cultural arts through the work of students and international activists as well as performances in international art.