UEM AWARD BELONGS TO THE DAUGHTER OF A MAN WHO SELLS SOCKS FOR A LIVING
KUALA LUMPUR, 14 December 2015 – the limitations in life were not obstacles for the daughter of a man who sells socks for a living to excel in her studies as well as qualifying as one of the recipients of UEM Award Excellence in Engineering 2015 in a ceremony held at The Odyssey, Level 7, UEM Tower, KL Central here today.
Graduating with a 3.78 CGPA in Material Engineering, Chuah Wei Hoong, 24, a graduate from the School of Materials & Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) was awarded with RM5, 000 and certificate.
Her final year project entitled Investigation On Hydrophobic Coating For Better Functionality and Durability with the objective of developing an environment of hydrophobic friendly with multiple functions of self cleaning, transparency and long term durability had brought luck to Chuah this year.
According to the Penang native, she is in gratitude to USM especially to the head of the programme, Professor Ir. Dr. Mariatti Jaafar along with the project supervisor, Professor Ir. Dr. Srimala Sreekantan who had provided the guidance and support as well as the opportunity to her in representing the School and competing with the other candidates.
“I did not expect to receive the award because the other participants are excellent as well“, said Chuah who is a second child.
“This achievement is a very memorable one and my family and I are very proud after I graduated from my four year study at USM”, she said.
She added, “Since I was small, my parents worked really hard to provide for our family and it made me independent in my studies and in anything that I delved in to ensure that they would not be worried of my future career and life ahead”.
“I am convinced that if we were to study hard with full determination, success will be ours and I would be able to provide a better livelihood for them”, she added.
Asked for her secret to success, Chuah who is currently working as a process engineer at Keysight Technologies Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Penang said, daring to try and if one wants something bad enough, one would be able to succeed and gain it, as long as one has strong will and determination in fulfilling the responsibility entrusted upon one.
The daughter of Chuah Hoot Sew, 63 and Yeoh Saw Kin, 56, explains that she would like to gain some experience before furthering her studies in the Masters Degree.
Meanwhile, the School of Materials & Mineral Resources lecturer, Professor Ir. Dr. Srimala Sreekantan also expressed her pride with Chuah’s success as well as glorifying USM’s name.
“I always encourage my students to be involved in field work and not merely focusing on their studies”, said Srimala who is also the project supervisor for the excellent student’s final year project.
“To me, their involvement in outside programmes and activities would enable them to truly learn the meaning of life and to forge a better relationship with the community as a preparation towards achieving success”, she said.
According to Srimala who was also a recipient of Top Research Scientist Malaysia Award (TRSM) recently, she hopes that each graduate would be able to contribute ideas and do something beneficial for the community.
Deputy Dean (Academic), School of Materials & Mineral Resources, Prof. Madya Ir. Dr. Syed Fuad Saiyid Hashim also agreed with Srimala and implores to the other lecturers to have the initiative and to seize opportunities such as these by offering projects that are relevant to the sponsors.
The School is very proud with this achievement and hopes that this would be ongoing in other fields as well”, said Syed Fuad who was representing the Dean.
The award was presented by the Chairman of the Board, UEM Group Bhd., Tan Sri Dr. Ahmad Tajuddin Ali.
Also present to celebrate the success were Group Managing Director, UEM Group Bhd, Dato’ Izzaddin Idris, Engineering Campus Director, Professor Dr. Zainal Arifin Mohd Ishak and other university representatives.
Translation: Siti Sara Zainal Abidin
Text & Photos: Mohd Kamil Ashar