BANGKOK: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad arrived in Bangkok this afternoon to begin his two-day working visit to Thailand.
The government jet carrying Dr Mahathir and wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali touched down at 3.30pm at the Don Mueang Royal Thai Air Force base, where they were greeted by Thai Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin, Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, and Malaysian ambassador to Thailand Datuk Jojie Samuel.
Dr Mahathir is scheduled to be feted at a dinner organised by Rangsit University (RSU) president Dr Arthit Ourairat at a leading hotel here tonight, before being conferred an honorary doctorate in social leadership, business and politics on Sunday.
Early tomorrow, the Prime Minister will visit RSU’s main campus in Mueang Pathum Thani District, about 30 kilometres from here, to receive the honour.
This is the second honorary award conferred on Dr Mahathir in Thailand.
On Nov 7, the Prime Minister was awarded the Nation-Building Lifetime Achievement Award (Public Sector) by Thailand’s Nation-Building Institute.
The 93-year-old leader will only be the third person ever honoured by RSU – the top private institution of higher learning in Thailand – after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.