Among this year's awards that make me go ‘What?' are HELP University's honorary doctorate of economics to North Korean President Kim Jong-Un for making "untiring efforts for the education of the country and the well-bring of its people"; UiTM's honorary doctorate of law to Sarawak chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud , and Curtin University's honorary doctorate of letters conferred on the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor for her "dedication to early childhood education".

But the one that bamboozles me the most is the 'Global Inspirational Leadership' awarded to Rosmah at the African-Middle East-Asia Amazons Awards Gala in Dubai on Dec 18 for "her impact on women and children". 

Honorary doctorates awarded to politicians, including their spouses, are driven as much by politics and profits than the life achievements of recipients, which effectively dishonour those whose work have made significant difference to a field of study or whose moral authority have held sway over the fight of equality and human dignity...