PETRONAS fuelling Sarawak’s next generation

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By Amanda L

The road to higher education does not look the same for everyone.

For three young Sarawakians, different circumstances shaped the way they saw their future, but they did not allow adversity to define them.

A purpose shaped by family

For Christopher Daniel bin Zamery, a sense of purpose carried him through difficulty. He knew what he was working towards, even when the path ahead was uncertain.

Growing up in a rural village in Dalat, Christopher travelled to school by boat, crossing the river as part of his daily routine. As his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination approached, he stayed in the school hostel for weeks on end, as travelling home became increasingly perilous.

“I needed to cross the river to go to school, and I had to stay in a hostel for about a month. The stay was longer during SPM,” he said.

His resilience was tested even further when his parents divorced, plunging his household into sudden financial uncertainty.

Rather than letting hardship derail his ambitions, Christopher channelled his energy into his studies and co-curricular activities, holding onto the hope of securing a life-changing break that would lift the financial weight off his family’s shoulders.

“I wanted to shine,” he added. “I wanted to get this sponsorship to alleviate my family’s financial burden,” he said.

That turning point he awaited arrived when he was studying at Kolej Matrikulasi Negeri Sembilan.

He was overcome by joy when he received the notification confirming he had been awarded the prestigious PETRONAS Powering Knowledge Education Sponsorship (PPKES).

With no time to waste, he made a call to his mother.

“I heard the pride and excitement in her voice,” he shared.

His mother was a constant source of support throughout his studies, making sure he had what he needed, from stationery and food to encouragement when academic pressure increased.

As the only sibling in his family to secure a university placement through the competitive sponsorship, Christopher sees the opportunity as a chance to repay his mother for her sacrifices.

“I wish my Mom could see me receive this sponsorship,” he shared when met by a DayakDaily reporter at the PPKES award ceremony at Pullman Hotel in Kuching.

“I want to make her proud and thank her for all her sacrifices.”

When asked what he would tell his mother if she were watching, Christopher slipped into Melanau:

“Mak, kau mestiu happy, gembira gakti… ikou ngak berjaya mengharumkan nama keluarga. Maksudnya ikou ngak membanggakan mama.” – Mother, you must be so happy that I’ve made our family proud; that I finally made you proud.

Christopher is set to pursue Chemical Engineering at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP). His passion in engineering was sparked by a secondary school Physics teacher who opened his eyes to the wonders of the discipline.

Fascinated by how science and technology can drive sustainable development, he sees immense potential in fields ranging from pharmaceuticals to oil and gas.

Ultimately, Christopher hopes to return to Sarawak with the knowledge and skills he has gained and contribute to the development of rural communities.

Breaking limits of self-doubt

For Theodora Pei Ern Huei, the biggest challenge was learning to believe in her own abilities.

As an only child, Theodora placed immense pressure on herself during her SPM preparations. This eventually led to academic burnout, causing her to question whether she could achieve the goals she had set for herself.

When she felt herself nearing her limit, Theodora turned to her school counsellor.

The conversation helped her step back from the expectations she had placed on herself and see her own potential differently.

“You are bigger than what you think you are. You can achieve much more than you think you can,” she recalled.

The words stayed with her.

Today, Theodora is preparing to pursue Mechanical Engineering, beginning with A-Levels at Taylor’s College before continuing her degree in the United Kingdom or Canada.

Her passion in engineering was sparked by a childhood fascination with LEGO bricks, Formula 1 and the intricate mechanics of sports cars.

“Mechanical engineering really interests me, because I can work with a lot of systems, and I can develop things that I want, that can benefit other people,” she said.

Theodora hopes to return home and contribute to Sarawak’s digital economy and hydrogen initiatives.

The PETRONAS education sponsorship will give her an opportunity to gain wider exposure, new experiences and a global perspective.

The self-doubt that once made her question what she was capable of has given way to a stronger belief in what she can achieve.

A calling in robotics

Muhammad Aiman Aliff bin Samsul’s interest in technology began with a fascination in how things worked.

The second of five siblings from a farming family in Bintulu, Aiman developed an early interest in machines through science fiction films such as Transformers.

It was a school robotics competition that gave him the opportunity to explore the field hands-on.

“The experience was very interesting. It showed me the potential of robotics for the future,” he reflected.

The experience eventually led him towards Mechatronic Engineering, bringing together his interest in robotics, automation and technology.

Aiman is currently laying the groundwork for his degree through his foundation studies at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

Breaking into an advanced technical field was a foreign concept to his family at first. When he first shared his ambition, his parents were taken by surprise simply because they were unfamiliar with what mechatronics entailed.

However, he gradually earned their full understanding and blessing.

Looking back on the tough selection process, Aiman realised that earning the PETRONAS sponsorship took a lot more than just getting straight As.

“It’s not just academic performance. It’s more towards teamwork, leadership, communication, and hard work,” he said.

“I will return to Sarawak because there are many factories in the state that require mechatronics engineers,” he added.

Aiman hopes to collaborate with like-minded innovators to build smart solutions, including sustainable technology designed to tackle pressing environmental challenges.

Different beginnings, shared ambitions

Their stories began in different places and were shaped by different experiences, but all three share a determination to build a future on their own terms.

The PETRONAS education sponsorship gives them the support to pursue their chosen fields, gain wider exposure and build the knowledge and skills needed for their future careers. – DayakDaily