Saudi Arabia's King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud's request for two honorary doctorates from local universities is proof of the country's improving higher education standards, at least according to Higher Education Minister Idris Jusoh.

"We are doing good in Malaysia without realising it because this is the reception we are getting throughout the world.

"(The) reason why King Salman from Saudi, instead of getting one honorary doctorate from Malaysia he asked for two, he got two from Malaysia," said Idris.

In his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of Mahsa University's sports and recreation centre in Bandar Saujana Putra today, Idris said he was surprised as he thought it was sufficient to give the Saudi monarch only one honorary doctorate.

"But he said he didn't mind having two," said Idris.

This, despite the Saudis being exposed to American and British education and sometimes even "speaking better than the Americans", added Idris.

"We have meetings with ministers, I was telling Tok Pa (Mustapa Mohamed) the minister of International Trade and Industry 'can we converse with them in English'?

"(And) they speak better English than us. In terms of the twang, the R roll. We speak Malaysian English.

"What I'm saying is that those who are exposed to American and British education - they are looking at Malaysia.

And some, the minister believes, may even want to take up critical courses such as medicine, dentistry and pharmacy in the country, if allowed to.

"Tan Sri Haniffa, you can get through me, I can help to get students from Saudi," said Idris, addressing Mahsa University's founder and executive chairperson.

"The point is we are doing good. We are soaring upwards," added the minister in reference to his ministry's tagline.

King Salman, during his state visit to Malaysia in February, was conferred honorary doctorates from Universiti Malaya (UM) and Universiti Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIA).