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UNIVERSITIES & UNVERSITY COLLEGE ACT 1971
(CONSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSITIY OF MALAYA)

Part VI
(General Provisions)

Section 52 (Convocation)

(1) A Convocation for the cenferment of degrees shall be held annually, or as often as the Chancellor may direct, on such date as may be approved by the Chancellor.

(2) In the absence of the Chancellor or of a Pro-Chancellor, authorized for this purpose by the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor shall preside over Convocation.

SIGNIFICANT EVENT ON UM CONVO

JULY 1950 (SINGAPORE)

The University held its 1st Convocation on 8 July 1950 when the following degrees were conferred:

(a) The Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws on Sir Roland Braddell, Sir Alexander Morris Carr-Saunders & Sir Raymond Priestley;

(b) The Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science on Morris Jamieson;

(c) The Honorary Degree of Doctor Medicine in Edgar Kingsley Tratman;

(d) The Doctor of Medicine on Dr. Thamboo John Danaraj; and

(e) 2 M.Sc., 5 B.Sc.Hins., 11 B.Sc., 26 B.A. and 14 M.B.B.S.
JUNE 1957 (KUALA LUMPUR)
The University held its Convocation at the Chin Woo Auditorium in Kuala Lumpur in June 1957, graciously attended by Their Majesties The Yang di-Pertuan Agong & The Raja Permaisuri Agong. At the Convocation, the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaya & on Mr. Lim Yew Hock, the Chief Minister of Singapore.
JUNE 1960 (RECONSTITUTED)

At the 1960 Convocation held in Singapore, the Chancellor conferred the title of Emeritus Professor on two former professors of the University - R.A. Robinson (chemistry) and T.H. Silcock (economics). Honorary degrees were also conferred as follows:

(a) The Hon. LLD. on Mr. F. Mason, former Professor of Education and former Acting Principal of the Kuala Lumpur Division;

(b) The Hon. M.D. on Dr. M. Doraisingham, former Director of Medical Services, Singapore and former member of the University Council; and

(c) The Hon. M.D. on Dr. A.A. Sandosham, former Professor of Parasitology and former Principal of the Singapore Division.


 

JUNE 1961 (RECONSTITUTED)
 

At the 1961 Convocation held in the Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur, the Honorary Degree of LL.D. was conferred in the following:

(a) YAB Tun Abdul Razak bin Dato' Hussein, Deputy Prime Minister, Federation of Malaya;

(b) Tn. Hj. Mustapha Albakri, Chairman of Council, University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur;

(c) Mr. Foo Yin Chiew, member of Council and Chairman of the Finance Committee, University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur; and

(d) Mr. Thio Chan Bee, educationist in Singapore; and

(e) Mr. Yap Peng Geck, member of Council and Chairman of the Finance Committee, University of Malaya in Singapore.
JUNE 1962 (1ST CHANCELLOR & FOUNDATION DAY OF UNIVERSITY)
On 16 June 1962, UM celebrated the installation of YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj as its Chancellor and its Foundation Day. The ceremony was held at Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur when the Minister of Education (YB En. Abdul Rahman bin Hj. Talib) and Dr. Soo Kim Lan were conferred the Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Laws and Doctor of Medicine respectovely. The function was attended by more than 8,000 guest, including 100 representatives of universities from all over the world. A Banquet was held that evening at the Mandarin Palace of the Federal Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, which was honoured by the gracious presence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Raja Permaisuri Agong.
MAY 1965 (PARLIMENT BUILDING)
 
A total of 531 students recieved their degrees and diplomas at the Convocation held on 29 May 1965 at Parliment Building.


 

JUNE 1966 (DEWAN TUNKU CANSELOR)
A total of 702 students received their degrees and diplomas at the Convocation held on 25 June 1966.

Construction of the great Hall, Theatre and Administration Building took about one and a half years to complete. The Great Hall was opened by the Chancellor at the Convocation and named as Dewan Tunku Canselor. It had a capacity of 3,000 and was used for many purposes, such as, for lectures with large audiences, international conferences and indoor games (badminton and basketball).
EARLY 1968 (SPECIAL CONVOCATIONS)
The University held Special Convocations in early 1968 to confer the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws on His Excellency President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines and the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters on His Imperial Majesty Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shahanshah of Iran.
SEPTEMBER 1972 (INSTALLATION OF 2ND CHANCELLOR)
On 29 September 1972, UM celebrated the installation of Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sri Paduka Baginda Tuanku Bahiyah binti Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the Sultanah of Kedah (and Queen of Malaysia at that time) as its 2nd Chancellor. For the first time, the Convocation Ceremony was conducted according to the eastern tradition.

JUNE 1978 (ROYAL PROFESSORSHIP)
 
The Vice-Chancellor (Professor Ungku A. Aziz) was conferred the title of Royal Professor of Economics on 17 June 1978 by His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The appointment was made, after consultation with the Chancellor, from among people of oustanding academic distinction. The number of such appointment was limited to three at any one time. Ungku A. Aziz was the first and the only one in the country to be appointed to this high academic post.
JANUARY 1981 (SPECIAL CONVOCATION)
A Special Convocation was held in January 1981 to confer the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws on His Excellency Zenko Suzuki, the Prime Minister of Japan.
1983 (SPECIAL CONVOCATION)
 
A Special Convocation was held during the session to confer the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters on Her Royal Highness Princess Chakri Sirindhorn, the Royal Princess of Thailand.

Reference :
University of Malaya 1949 to 1985 Its Establishment, Growth and Development by Lim Chung Tat
Pertabalan Canselor Universiti Malaya Dalam Gema Tradisi Timur by Adam Abdul Hamid

Last Update: 10/09/2023