By Marlynda Meraw
IT was just an ordinary day at work for Abang Jimmy Abang Mordian until a sudden knock at the door broke his focus, pulling his attention away from the task at hand. As Abang Jimmy looked up, seeing his boss, Francis Oey standing at the door, a sense of déjà vu washed over him.
Oey was garbed in the same white shirt and holding the same suitcase during a similar encounter, months ago. The scene felt almost scripted, a peculiar familiarity setting in as Abang Jimmy awaited to hear what Oey wanted to say to him. He was not expecting his boss’ update.
“Nigeria is cancelled,” Oey said, “You’re going to Russia instead”.
For months, he had mentally prepared himself for the journey to Nigeria, but Abang Jimmy still got cold feet at the thought of it. Upon hearing the trip was suddenly called off, he immediately felt a quiet sense of relief. But Russia? It was only natural for the mind to immediately conjure images of Moscow or perhaps even the frozen expanses of Siberia.
Never did his thoughts wander to Sakhalin Island, Russia’s remote outpost just north of Japan—simply because most people, including himself, had never heard of the place.
“Sorry, what island?” Abang Jimmy asked.
Several weeks after the discussion, he departed for the remote Sakhalin Island, where he spent two years helping to establish the electrical department for the Russian natural gas liquefaction facility–known as the Sakhalin-2 LNG Project.
The little, but big world of Tebakang, Serian
Although Abang Jimmy was born in Kuching, Serian was the only place he knew, and even though it was just a tiny dot on the map, it meant everything to him.
Tebakang, a village in Serian Division, holds a special place in his heart. Having lived there, he cherished fond memories with his paternal and maternal grandfathers as a typical ‘kampung’ (village) boy.
Under the gentle guidance of his maternal grandfather, Haji Mat, a bond was formed that transcended mere family ties. Haji Mat wasn’t just a grandfather; he was a companion, a mentor. Together, Abang Jimmy and his grandfather would craft kites, fashion traditional ‘gasing’ (tops), and even create handmade catapults.
Each lesson became an essential moment, every creation evidence of the time they shared. These activities, however simple, became cherished memories etched deeply in Abang Jimmy’s heart.
For him, Sungai Batang Kayan that flows across Tebakang was more than just a river; it was a playground, a place where his childhood memories were formed.
Equipped with nothing but an inflatable pool ring, seven-year-old Abang Jimmy would jump into the river and feel the thrill as he splashed into the water below.
Curious and sanguine—these traits defined Abang Jimmy throughout his life, a blend of wonder and optimism that coloured his every step. In his early years at SK St. Teresa, Serian, he was quite the rascal, his playful spirit frequently leading him into mischief.
But the winds of change came swiftly. When his father, Abang Mordian, was transferred to SK Serian as headmaster, the boy’s world shifted. The mischief of his early school years began to fade, giving way to the responsibilities and expectations that came with being the headmaster’s son.
The pressure was intense, but instead of breaking under it, Abang Jimmy channelled it into his studies. When the results of his primary school achievement test were finally released, he had scored flying colours—the only student in the entire school to achieve perfect grades.
Naturally, he was offered a place at the esteemed Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah (DPAHA) College in Kuching for his secondary schooling. But even then, there was a pause, a moment of stillness before Abang Jimmy was able to take the next step. His parents, and his father, especially, were adamant—they wanted to send him off themselves.
It was as if, they too, needed a moment to hold on, to savour the last bit of time before their son’s world grew even larger; before he would enter the bigger world, carrying their hopes and love with him.
From imagining fields to building circuits
Behind closed lids, young Abang Jimmy dreamed of a vast field, where the earth felt rich and alive beneath his hands. He saw himself sitting atop a tractor, the land stretching out before him, all for him to nurture and cultivate. This vivid image became a guiding light, steering his choices as he entered SMK Serian.
But the dream was quick to ebb the moment Abang Jimmy turned to the first page of his Agriculture Science textbook. What greeted him was not the vision of fields and growth he had imagined, but a dry, uninspiring introduction to farming tools.
“This is a hoe. That was on the first page of the book,” Abang Jimmy couldn’t help but burst into laughter as he recalled his disenchantment.
That moment became his turning point. The disillusionment he felt led to a quiet resolve within him—he knew he had to change course. Abang Jimmy decided then and there that he must attend DPAHA College for his secondary education to challenge himself further. And so, just two weeks after enrolling in SMK Serian, he made the switch.
Like many mothers, Kiah Haji Mat sent her son, Abang Jimmy, off to DPAHA College with a heavy heart. As she watched him leave, her hopes for his future were wrapped in countless blessings and whispering prayers as he embarked on his journey.
But for young Abang Jimmy, a child of a small ‘kampung’ in Serian, the grandeur of it all seemed distant, almost unreal. To him, the school, no matter how renowned, was just another building, a place to learn, unaware of its significance in the wider world.
Yet it was in that new world that Abang Jimmy began to spread his wings. At just 14-years-old, his innovative spirit took flight, guiding him toward something extraordinary, having found himself standing among the brightest minds, earning third place in the Malaysian Invention and Designs Society Exhibition (MINDEX).
‘Little Noddy’, it was called—a simple yet ingenious device designed to keep drivers awake on long journeys, worn like a pair of glasses. In its early form, this clever prototype found its first model on a teddy bear, which proudly demonstrated its use during the MINDEX competition in Malaysia and was later brought to Brunei.
With ‘Little Noddy’ under his belt, Abang Jimmy had earned the trust of his teacher, allowing him to have the keys to the school’s workshop. Suddenly, the small world of Tebakang and Serian seemed to expand, and the once modest school workshop became a gateway to his dreams.
As a young, aspiring, electrical engineer, it was only natural to dream of attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), among the world’s top institutions of higher learning famous for its scientific and technological training and research. Yet, as much as he longed to reach for that distant star, Abang Jimmy understood the limitations of his journey.
In the meantime, he set his sights on Malaysia’s premier engineering school at Universiti Malaya (UM), embracing the opportunity to lay the foundation for his future.
A journey of many roles
Abang Jimmy received two offers after his Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) exams, one of which came from the giant of the oil and gas (O&G) industry: Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS).
It wasn’t an easy decision to make, not with his entire future hanging in the balance. His father stood beside him, sifting through the pros and cons, trying to glimpse what the future might hold.
But in the end, it was the trust that swayed him—the trust PETRONAS had shown in him when they offered a scholarship based solely on his forecast results. PETRONAS had taken a leap of faith, believing in Abang Jimmy’s potential even before the final grades were in. That trust resonated deeply within him, and so, with a sense of conviction, he chose PETRONAS, feeling that this was where he was meant to be.
“To me, at that time, they (PETRONAS) took a gamble on me… They believed in me, and I chose them because of that.”
He fondly recalled the years he spent in the preparatory school of Sri Cempaka before attending a university in New South Wales, Australia.
He remembered the small ‘buku tiga lima’ (555 book) that was always tucked in his pocket, a constant companion in his quest to master the English language. Whenever a new word reached his ears, he would quietly jot it down and look for its meaning in a dictionary at the end of the day.
“My English wasn’t very good. At Sri Cempaka, I was fortunate to have so many friends who spoke fluent English. I would carry a 555 notebook in my pocket and secretly jot down the vocabularies they used in their conversations. When I got home, I would quickly check the meaning in the dictionary,” he recalled.
Picture a teacher, poring over the students’ essays and stumbling upon a particular piece filled with complex words that throw her off guard. How could a student choose such sophisticated vocabulary for a seemingly simple assignment?
“My English teacher came to me and said, ‘Jimmy! Don’t use bombastic words!’”.
The memory was a true blend of embarrassment and amusement, with his teacher’s surprise at his unexpected choice of vocabulary.
In the hilarity of it all, Abang Jimmy embraced the teachable moments that life offered. With a daring spirit, he reflected on where he had gone wrong, determined to learn and grow from each experience.
Though he had dreamt of leaving Sarawak—and even Malaysia, fate had a different plan. He found himself working on Malaysia Liquefied Natural Gas (MLNG) as his first assignment in Bintulu, a place he would call home for the next ten years. It was a twist of irony that made him chuckle, as he realised life had its way of guiding him.
After a decade at Malaysia LNG, Abang Jimmy made a significant leap into corporate strategy, embarking on a new journey that would last for the next five years. From the top floor to the upper echelons of the company, he experienced a transformation that exposed him to a wealth of opportunities and insights.
It was during this period that his long-held dream of attending MIT became a reality, where he enrolled in the Sloan Fellows Master of Business Administration (MBA) intensive programme for a year.
Following his time at MIT, Abang Jimmy joined PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB) as the head of retail marketing, where he spent another three years honing his expertise in strategising and orchestrating innovative marketing solutions for PETRONAS’ retail stations, especially for fuel products, convenience stores, and customer loyalty programmes.
However, life took an unexpected turn when he was transferred to the human resources (HR) department for three years. In this new role, he took charge of leadership and capability development, playing an important part in shaping and framing the leadership initiatives at PETRONAS.
He then transitioned to Project Delivery and Technology (PD&T), where he led a company, Virtus IP, that focused on commercialising digital technologies internally developed within PETRONAS.
This experience brought Abang Jimmy to his current position, where he serves as PD&T’s Head of Strategy and Corporate Services, steering the team with the knowledge he has amassed throughout his diverse career.
From Tebakang to the world
In Tebakang, Abang Jimmy’s journey began with the innocence of a young boy, shaped by the river’s currents and his grandfather’s wisdom. Over the years, his world expanded far beyond those familiar paths, taking him from the small ‘kampung’ to the foreign streets of New South Wales, the icy winds of Sakhalin Island, and the halls of MIT.
But no matter how far he travelled or how many titles he held, the heart of that ‘kampung’ boy remained unchanged — grounded in the lessons of his youth and guided by a spirit that always believed there was more to discover and learn.
Though Abang Jimmy has worn many hats and journeyed far from his roots, he believes that true purpose isn’t found in titles or distant places. Instead, it resides within, shaped by the lessons learnt and experiences gathered along the way.
A devoted husband to a KL-born lady and a proud father of three, Abang Jimmy emphasises the importance of balancing career demands with family life. By mastering this balance, he not only excels in his profession but also deeply cherishes his role as a family man.
For him, life’s greatest fulfilment comes from continuous growth and the simple act of giving back. In every role he’s taken, Abang Jimmy remains grounded in his mission to touch lives and leave a lasting impact, no matter where the path leads him.— DayakDaily
