KUALA LUMPUR: A passion for knowledge had inspired former Pahang mentri besar Tan Sri Adnan Yaakob to complete his bachelor’s degree in law at the age of 72.

Adnan, the 14th Mentri Besar of Pahang, who was among 414 graduates who received their scrolls at the 38th Universiti Islamic Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) Convocation, was also awarded the Rector’s List for excelling with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.62.

Sharing his academic journey, Adnan said although he already had a bachelor’s degree in history from Universiti Malaya in 1975, he was determined to continue pursuing knowledge in the field of law.

“Many people asked me why I continued to study. Actually since childhood I had always loved seeking knowledge. That is why even though I have a bachelor’s degree in literature, I am still interested in furthering my studies.

“In fact, I read law here in 1984 and I was in the second group of this major. However, I didn’t complete the course as I was called to contest the election in 1986,” Bernama quoted him as telling reporters at the main hall of the Cultural Centre in UIAM yesterday.

Adnan, who served as Mentri Besar of Pahang from 1999 to 2018, said he liked to be surrounded by friends when he was studying.

“I find learning is easy at my age. I prefer to be surrounded by friends. When they come over for coffee, that’s when I start learning because it’s a more convenient and faster way for me.”