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I believe that the work I do will help contribute to creating an efficient mode of transportation and a more sustainable future, since the electrification of the railways could help reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions, making it the greener choice of transport.
Growing up as the deputy head prefect at SMK Puchong, I was deemed a high-performing student in a school where academic performance was not always the easiest to attain. I had also excelled in sports and was a national karate athlete until my aspirations were folded when a knee injury spelled the end of my professional karate career. Besides the injury, I found myself struggling to cope academically due to familial circumstances, despite having previously received 12As at SPM level.
Nonetheless, I applied to study electrical engineering at an undergraduate level and received a YTL Foundation scholarship after my first term at university, having since graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Malaysia. For me, YTL’s scholarship offered more than just financial aid, but also constant coaching and support. After attending a two-day Foundation Scholar Retreat in 2016, I was inspired by learning about personality types, which helped me develop my own personality over the years.
Upon graduation, I joined YTL Construction and have spent close to 3 years working here. I was recently transferred from the Kuala Lumpur office to the Johor office – a move that allowed me to have my position on hold for a year and a half by my supervisor due to extenuating circumstances. You may be wondering, what led me to further my studies? Well, I credit my department for sparking my interest in pursuing my postgraduate qualification.
When I started, I had no intention of doing a Master’s but as I watched my seniors work, it motivated me to pursue my PMP (Project Management Professional) certificate, which requires 5 years’ experience. With the UM course, I was able to study project management and obtain the required qualifications.
Yet again, my postgraduate journey itself was not easy as it coincided with the Movement Control Order (MCO), which became a challenge for me to manage both work and studies online. I found myself missing out on various departmental activities because I was too busy with my studies to do much else, apart from my day job and the postgraduate course itself.
In spite of various obstacles, I managed to pull through with the support and encouragement of family and colleagues who rooted for my success. Now that I have reached the completion of my course, I have no regrets and I am determined to take my career aspirations to new heights in the coming months and years.
As I look forward to my career, my expertise will continue to be important as new railway projects are always in the works. Systems function as the ‘brain’ of the trains, and there will always be a need for a team to project manage and monitor the three main components – electrification, communication and signaling.
In this line of profession and just like any other, we face myriad challenges on a daily basis, such as effectively managing and communicating with external parties, particularly turnkey contractors and subcontractors. However, I believe that the work I do will help contribute to creating an efficient mode of transportation and a more sustainable future, since the electrification of the railways could help reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions, making it the greener choice of transport.
