Malaysia’s private Limkokwing University yesterday awarded Prime Minister Hun Sen an honorary doctorate in ‘transformational leadership’ in recognition of the premier’s efforts in bringing stability to a once war-torn Cambodia.

The presentation of the degree coincided with a media push yesterday in which Limkokwing’s Phnom Penh branch announced it would begin offering associate degrees to adults and students whose national exam results ‘may be somewhat below par’.

Last year’s disastrous national exam results saw many students turn to associate degrees offered by private universities for their laxer entry requirements.

Results for this year’s exams are due later this month, and though they are projected to be better, some test scorers have said pass rates remain low.

In receiving his degree, Hun Sen said he hoped ‘that people will vote for the [ruling Cambodian People’s Party] in the upcoming commune and national elections, and I will share this honour with all members of the government, legislative and executive branches and the civil servants’.

Opposition spokesman Yim Sovann said afterward that his party had ‘no interest in the diploma’.