Ismail Sabri earns PhD for research on Covid-19 policy

Ismail Sabri earns PhD for research on Covid-19 policy

The former prime minister completed his PhD in political science at Universiti Utara Malaysia with his results endorsed by the university senate on April 28.

ISMAIL SABRI
Ismail Sabri Yaakob is believed to be the first former prime minister to have earned a doctorate.
PETALING JAYA:
Former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has earned a doctorate in political science from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) for research into policy models for dealing with Covid-19 as a health security threat.

Ismail, 66, a law graduate of Universiti Malaya and a former practising lawyer, is believed to be the first former prime minister to earn a PhD.

He began his doctoral studies in February 2024, with his research drawing on Malaysia’s experience with the Covid-19 global pandemic from 2020 to 2022.

During that period, he served as senior minister overseeing pandemic management. When he became prime minister from August 2021 to November 2022, his role shifted to focus on the country’s economic recovery.

The former prime minister passed his viva voce in December at the Ghazali Shafie Graduate School of Government.

UUM’s academic affairs department said in a letter today that Ismail completed his PhD in the second semester of the 2025/2026 academic session with his results endorsed by the university senate on April 28 confirming that he had fulfilled all requirements for the PhD programme.

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