Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has successfully completed his Doctor of Philosophy viva voce in Political Science at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), marking a major academic milestone following his tenure leading the country through the COVID-19 crisis. The assessment panel endorsed his thesis subject to minor amendments, with the final conferment pending approval by the University Senate.
Ismail Sabri’s doctoral research centres on Malaysia’s response to the pandemic during the critical period from 2020 to 2022, drawing directly from his experience at the helm of government. His thesis examines crisis management and health security policy, analysing how national strategies were formulated and executed to confront unprecedented public health and governance challenges. The work situates Malaysia’s approach within broader political and institutional frameworks, highlighting decision-making processes, inter-agency coordination, and policy outcomes during a prolonged national emergency.
The viva voce was conducted December 16th at the Ghazali Shafie Graduate School of Government (GSGSG), UUM, and was overseen by an academic panel comprising senior scholars in political science and public policy. The session was chaired by Associate Professor Dr Kamarul Azman Khamis, with Professor Datuk Dr Sivamuragan Pandian serving as the external examiner and Associate Professor Dr Nazariah Osman acting as the internal examiner. The panel assessed the originality, methodological rigour, and policy relevance of the research before recommending it for approval with minor revisions.
Supervision of the doctoral work was led by Professor Dr Rusdi Omar, Dean of GSGSG, supported by Associate Professor Dr Che Mohd Aziz Yaacob and Associate Professor Ts Dr Jessica Ong Hai Liaw. The supervisory committee guided the research from proposal to defence, ensuring academic standards were met while integrating empirical insights from Malaysia’s pandemic governance.
University representatives were present to receive Ismail Sabri at the campus, including Professor Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs and Alumni, who is currently carrying out the duties of Vice-Chancellor. Their presence underscored the institution’s recognition of the significance of the research, given its close link to recent national history and policy practice.
While the viva outcome represents a key step toward the doctoral title, formal confirmation remains subject to the University Senate’s deliberation. Once approved, the degree will add an academic credential to Ismail Sabri’s public service record, reflecting a scholarly examination of Malaysia’s pandemic management at a time when governance capacity and health security were under intense global scrutiny.
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