Eleven years ago, Norashikin Sarwar was widowed after her husband passed away due to sickness. Since then, she has single-handedly shaped her family, taking on the dual roles of mother and father, and guiding her children toward a promising future.
Raising four children on her own was no easy feat, but she did it with grace and humility. Alongside her responsibilities as a mother, she has been running a successful local catering business in Bintulu, well-known in the community, for over 10 years.
Norashikin’s perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit amidst grievances not only supported her family financially but also instilled resilience and discipline in her children. She always reminded them that education was the only way forward, despite not having had the opportunity herself to attend university beyond secondary school.
Today, her dedication to her family has paid off as all four of her children have found paths in the engineering field. Her eldest sons, Muhammad Hazwan Fikri, 29, and Muhammad Hamizan Fikri, 27, are technicians in the oil and gas industry, while the youngest, Muhammad Hijazi Fikri, 20, is preparing to study Electrical Engineering at Institut Kemahiran MARA (IKM) Bintulu.
Perhaps, the jewel in her crown is her third child and only daughter, 24-year-old Nur Shahira Jamila Roslan. Armed with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Nur Shahira recently secured a permanent job as an Executive (Operation Engineer) at Petronas subsidiary, Malaysia LNG Sdn Bhd (MLNG), a role she’s eager to step into after her internship with the PETRONAS Graduate Employability Enhancement Scheme (GEES) in MLNG since August 2023.
It’s a mother’s dream come true for Norashikin to see her four beloved children passionately pursuing engineering and building thriving careers in Malaysia’s oil and gas industry.
Growing up in Bintulu, where engineers in “yellow coveralls” are symbols of success, she had always hoped her children might join that world. Now, as that dream comes to life, she feels immense pride and fulfillment in her children’s achievements.
“Of course, I feel incredibly proud. I never pushed them to pursue engineering; it is their own dreams that they’ve pursued. Watching them achieve their goals is such a rewarding experience for me as a mother. It’s amazing to see how their hard work and passion have paid off, and it makes me hopeful for my youngest, who is also studying engineering.”
Reflecting on her life journey, she holds no regrets. She has faith in Allah’s plan and feels that each step of the journey, whether joyous or challenging, has served its purpose in shaping who she is today. For her, life has been a journey of resilience, filled with lessons that have taught her to appreciate every experience along the way.
Looking forward, Norashikin hopes to continue being the best and most supportive mother she can be. She wants to be there for her children in all that they do, both personally and professionally. Above all, she hopes that they will stay grounded and always strive to do their best, regardless of how far they go in life.
For Shahira, the life lessons her mother taught her has led her to where she stands today, as a better person. While memories of her late father still bring her to tears, she stands steadfast in her ambitions, knowing her parents’ and other family members’ love fuels her journey.
In five years, she envisions herself as a more knowledgeable and skilled engineer, someone who leads by example and inspires others. For her, success is not just about personal achievement; it’s about honouring the love and sacrifices that brought her here and striving to make her mother proud with each step.
Shahira was one out of seven Sarawakians who were offered permanent positions in MLNG, Bintulu by PETRONAS at the annual Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak 2024 event held in Kuala Lumpur on 19 October 2024. At the same event, seven others were also offered internship positions under the Protege-GEES program, in MLNG.
The Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak 2024 programme, which featured 62 booths including PETRONAS’, was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof and graced by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. Among those who also attended the event were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, and MLNG managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) Laga Jenggi.
MLNG is a subsidiary of PETRONAS which is operating as part of the PETRONAS LNG Complex (PLC) in Bintulu. Spanning 276 hectares of land, PLC stands as one of the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities in the world, with a production capacity of nearly 30 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). — DayakDaily
