Wives tearfully receive husband’s degrees, father receives son’s diploma

PAYA BESAR, 8 November 2022 - A emotional atmosphere enveloped the hall as names were read out as family members took to the stage representing graduands in the sixth session of the 17th Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) Convocation Ceremony.

Ana Suriana Abu Bakar from Mersing, Johor represented her late husband, Imran Ibrahim, 49, receiving the Executive Master of Safety, Health and Environment, UMP Advanced presented by the UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin.

According to Ana Suriana, she is proud of the success of her late husband but is still grieving that he intended to attend the convocation ceremony this year with the children.

“Imran died on 26 May this year from a heart attack while resting at home.

“My husband once expressed his intention to pursue a doctoral degree (PhD) after completing his Executive Master’s degree so that he could be an example to his five children.

“I always pray that our children can follow in their late father’s footsteps to continue learning regardless of age as their father had proven,” he said.

She also expressed her gratitude to UMP for giving her family the opportunity to attend the convocation ceremony of her late husband although he was not around anymore.

She said UMP had helped her in various aspects in facilitating the process of receiving the degree on behalf of her late husband today.

Also present, the late graduand’s wife, Maryana Mohamad Nor, 45, took to the stage to receive the degree of her late husband, Nazeli Mohd Noor, who died on 17 December last year from liver cancer.

The mother-of-five said her late husband had a high fighting spirit of pursuing higher education.

“He always reminded the children that knowledge is ibadah besides increasing self-confidence in challenging the existing capabilities.

“This success also encourages my children to learn as much as they can,” she said.

Meanwhile, the father of the late Muhammad Adam Arami, Roselan Mohamed, 47, did not expect to take to the stage to represent his eldest son to receive the Diploma in Electrical Engineering.

He shared the final moments of the passing of his late son who initially had a fever and felt tired tiredness and wanted to rest in the room in his house.

After returning from work, he tried to awaken his son, but he did not respond or move.

That was the last moment he saw his son’s face.

He said Adam was a cheerful, responsible and loving person with his siblings.

“The loss of the eldest child impacted us hugely as a family.

“My presence in this ceremony is to appreciate the efforts of my late son and to encourage his brothers to study hard until the university level,” he said.

Meanwhile, the family representative of the graduand of Corporate Management Executive Master, Thivagar s/o Muthusamy, who died of a heart attack on 16 September 2022, was unable to attend the 17th Convocation Ceremony.

By: Sakinah Abdullah, UMP Advanced and Nor Salwana Mohammad Idris, Corporate Communications Division, Chancellery Department
 
Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology