By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 6: The rain began as a whisper —a soft pitter-patter on the zinc roof that quickly grew into a persistent chorus. Inside a wooden house along Jalan Mendu, Kuching, five sisters sprang into action.
“It’s raining again! Go get the basins!” Selina’s commanding voice rang out. As the eldest, she always took charge.
“I’m on it!” Noriani, the youngest, darted toward the bathroom. She grabbed whatever containers she could and dashed back to the living room. Her sisters gathered, their heads all tilted back, eyes tracing the darkening patches of damp wood.
“There!” Kartina, the third sister, pointed near the sofa. She snatched a basin from Noriani and slid it into place just as a fat droplet splashed onto the floor. Together, the sisters hunted the leaks like a practiced team.
By noon, the rain had eased, but the basins had been emptied more times than they cared to count.
“It’s almost 12.30pm,” Noriani reminded. Their father, Mohamad Akip, would be home from work soon to take them to the Sarawak Library, as he did every Saturday.
While Mohamad Akip enjoyed his lunch after reaching home, Noriani sat on the wooden steps, fidgeting with excitement. Her stack of Nancy Drew novels sat beside her, well-worn from the days of late-night reading. She couldn’t wait to dive into more mysteries.
The rain had dwindled to a faint mist by the time Mohamad Akip stepped out. “Ready, girls?” he called out, heading toward his beloved Morris Minor.
Noriani and her sisters trailed after him, their spirits high. But as soon as their father turned the key, the engine groaned and fell silent. Mohamad Akip sighed, and the sisters exchanged knowing looks.
This wasn’t the first time the aging Morris Minor needed a push to get going, especially when it rained.
They quickly took their positions and pushed with all their might. The engine soon spluttered to life, and the sisters cheered as they scrambled back inside, resuming their journey to the library.
“That was one of my most unforgettable memories growing up in this wooden house,” recalled Noriani Yati Mohamad.
‘Shy, kampung girl’ to first woman heading largest PETRONAS offshore operations in Malaysia
Born on 17 August 1971, Noriani was the youngest daughter of Mohamad Akip, an Iban-Malay, and Nancy Abas, a Chinese who was adopted by a Malay family. Noriani’s late father used to work as a mechanic at Public Works Department (JKR) while her mother was a clerk at Kuching’s General Post Office.
Noriani grew up in a belian wooden house, which was built by her grandfather over a century ago, alongside four elder sisters and a younger brother. At 22, she lost her father to a heart attack, and two years later, her only brother tragically passed away.
Despite these challenges, her childhood was a blend of privilege and affection. Her older sisters—Selina (the strict one), Suriani (the ‘stalker’), Kartina (the loving one), and Kertini (the quarrel buddy)—doted on her. Like her mother and sisters, she attended St Mary’s primary and secondary schools.
Never in Noriani’s wildest dreams did she imagine herself, a ‘shy, kampung girl’, getting the chance to study abroad to pursue her tertiary education, but she excelled in SPM and was awarded a scholarship by PETRONAS. She pursued a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering at the Colorado School of Mines in the United States of America.
After graduation, she began her career as a surveillance engineer at PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd in Kertih, Terengganu. She then spent 15 years in Kertih, taking on various roles ranging from technical and operations to planning and techno-commercial. Later, she moved to Kuala Lumpur, where she was involved in Strategic Planning for two years before returning to her core field in Petroleum Engineering.
After 20 years in PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd, she joined Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM) and was tasked to strategise the overall development of hydrocarbon resources in Sabah and Sarawak.
Following another brief stint as project director for a new field development in Terengganu, she took on her current role in June 2024 as the senior general manager of PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Assets). Based in Miri now, she leads over 2,000 employees and manages over 100 offshore and onshore facilities.
“PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Assets) has been in operation for 37 years since 1987. To be the first woman heading the operations, is both a humbling and exciting experience. Of course, it can be quite scary at times. Being a female leader, people would look up to you, and you sort of become a role model to others, especially other women.”
delegates at Wisma Bapa Malaysia for the SISGES presentation.
Throughout her career, she had a few notable achievements, which included leading the unitisation of several Malaysia-Brunei fields which resulted in the signing of the Unitisation Framework Agreement between Malaysia and Brunei in 2018.
In 2022, she strategised and led the development of the Sarawak Integrated Sour Gas Evacuation System (SISGES) project, resulting in the monetisation of several sour gas fields for investment growth and sustainability in Sarawak.
As a Sarawakian, she found it honourable and unforgettable when she had the opportunity to present the project proposal to Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg to get approval for the establishment of the gas plants in Tanjung Kidurong.
Today, Noriani stands as a confident career woman who is positive on the outlook of life. The broody girl who had little exposure to the outside world has grown to become an eclectic leader who inspires those around her with her resilience and forward-thinking mindset.
“I think, when I was younger, I would always be worried, you know, about what would happen. And now, whatever happens, I’m sure I can handle it. I would say I’m more confident now, and I’m more positive about the outlook of life.”
Balancing dreams and family
In 1994, just a week into her first job in Kertih, Terengganu, Noriani married Azmi Abd Ghani, a Kelantanese engineer whom she met at university. Together, they raised six children – five sons, including a pair of twins, and a daughter.
Juggling a career in the male-dominated engineering field while raising her family wasn’t easy. She recalled moments of heartbreak, like when her son lamented her absence at a school concert or when her daughter wouldn’t tell her about being valedictorian.
daughter, and five sons.
“My daughter did not tell me she was the valedictorian at her graduation because she assumed that I would not be able to attend. To me, she said, ‘It’s on a weekday. You would not be able to come anyway.’ My heart broke when I heard that.”
Despite the struggle, she believed it was all about priorities. She would make it a point to attend key school events and dedicate other times to work. Every year, they would go on family vacations to reconnect.
“I wouldn’t have made it without the support system that I had — my husband, family, in-laws, friends, colleagues, bosses and even domestic helpers,” said Noriani.
She also credits her success to her sisters, who often guided her in managing family and her children’s education, despite them having pursued different career paths. Selina followed their father’s footsteps and is now working in JKR, Dr Suriani is now a lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Kartina a teacher, while Kertini excelled in administrative work.
Only Malay wooden house still standing at Jalan Mendu, Kuching
Like Noriani and her sisters, the wooden house along Jalan Mendu has weathered decades of change. This vibrant orange belian structure, over 100 years old, still stands strong as a symbol of resilience and family heritage.
Once filled with the sounds of a family of eight, it now shelters Noriani’s mother, who lovingly tends to the large compound despite her age of 80, alongside a sister. The other siblings visit regularly, especially during festive seasons.
The century-old house, the last wooden structure in the area, has been meticulously maintained, its orange colour repainted annually. For the family, this enduring home remains a cornerstone, capturing the laughter and tears of future generations. — DayakDaily
