Fatini, daughter of Auxiliary Police, active in volunteer activities and receives Royal Education Award

GAMBANG, 26 October 2024 – Since she was in school, the recipient of the Royal Education Award (Pingat Jaya Cemerlang) at the 19th Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) Convocation Ceremony, Fatini Nasuha Ahmad Puad, 23, has been interested in volunteering activities, but has not found the right platform to realise this desire.

The daughter of Auxiliary Police, Ahmad Puad Mohd Isa, 60, and Mulyani Munir, 58, a housewife, has always made their parents a source of inspiration and encouragement to continue to work hard in whatever she is involved in.

Receiving the offer to UMPSA and becoming one of the recipients of the Yayasan UMPSA’s excellence incentives seemed to give way when she learned that Yayasan UMPSA was not only focused on student welfare but also community programmes.

She said that after participating in the volunteer programme organised by Yayasan UMPSA, she had the opportunity to be part of an active squad with a positive impact on the community.

“I have also been appointed President of PEKA 3, which allows me to lead and encourage friends to be involved in humanitarian activities.

“One of the most rewarding experiences was my participation in various corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, including sustainability programmes, education and post-flood relief missions that involved distributing aid to victims.

“Through these programs, I can see the direct impact of the assistance given and feel a deep satisfaction when I can contribute to the well-being of the community,” said the youngest of three siblings from Selangor.

Unlike girls her age who make artists as idols, she sees His Majesty Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj as a figure to be admired and emulated.

She had the opportunity to see Tengku Ampuan for herself in the Kembara Kenali Borneo programme.

The recipient of the Bachelor of Manufacturing Engineering Technology (Pharmaceutical) with Honours degree from the Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology (FTKKP) is not only active in outdoor activities but also good at balancing her time when obtaining the Dean’s List Award each semester with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.88.

During her time at UMPSA, she managed to obtain the Best Academic Performance Award and the Best Co-curricular Award at the Yayasan UMPSA Appreciation Ceremony 2022, Special Award for Kembara Prihatin@Negeri Di Bawah Bayu 2.0, Research and Innovation Award at the Yayasan UMPSA Appreciation Ceremony 2023.

In addition, she received the Best Student Resident Award two years in a row and the Promising Student Award in the 2023 Mercu Sanjungan (MARS) Award Ceremony on 18 May 2024 at the Zenith Hotel, Kuantan.

She also won a gold medal in the 2024 Creation, Innovation, Technology & Research Exposition (CITREx), the winner of the UMPSA ISPE 2024 Poster Competition and the runner-up of the National ISPE 2024 Poster Competition.

Her courage and dedication to volunteering have opened up greater opportunities, including being responsible for managing impactful projects such as the international mobility programme in Ho Chi Minh: To Give Them Hope organised by PEKA 3 in 2023.

“I have also been entrusted to lead the Kembara Prihatin programme in Belaga, Sarawak, to support the Ukit ethnic minority community.

“This programme aims to provide support to underserved communities, and it is my pleasure to assist them in improving their living conditions.

“Recently, I was involved in the international mobility programme in Kashmir, India, and we worked together to repair the bridge which is the main route for residents in Kampung Bhat,” she said.

She witnessed first-hand the challenges faced by local communities and how to help improve their accessibility.

“This experience not only enriched my knowledge of cultural diversity but also strengthened my passion to continue serving the community regardless of borders.

“On this occasion, I would like to thank all lecturers and friends who have supported and guided me over the years.

“I will always pray that kindness is bestowed upon them in all situations.

“During my studies at UMPSA, I also went through bitter experiences such as facing failure, stress in managing the time between lessons and outdoor activities, as well as challenges in completing complex projects,” she explained.

Even so, each of these challenges is a very valuable lesson for her because it teaches the meaning of perseverance during difficult times.

Fatini added that these bittersweet moments shaped her to be more mature and ready to face the real world after graduation.

“As a prospective alumnus, I am committed to continuing to contribute to the progress of UMPSA and am ready to support alumni activities, in addition to serving as a university ambassador to encourage more students and industry to collaborate with the university.

“In addition, I hope to contribute my knowledge, experience and industry network to further strengthen UMPSA’s position in the higher education arena.

“I am also determined to be involved in community programmes and university development so that the relationship between alumni and alma mater continues to be close and have a positive impact on the next generation,” she said.

She hoped that UMPSA would continue to progress and become a more brilliant centre of excellence in knowledge, continue to take steps forward in the field of research, innovation and academic development, and then produce more graduates who excel academically and also have great credentials and are globally competitive.

By empowering technology and increasing industrial collaboration, she believes UMPSA will be able to become a leading and respected university globally.

She also urged UMPSA students to continue to make positive use of the opportunities provided by the university by bringing the desire of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in producing students who have high academic skills, excellent self-esteem and have superior and holistic personality.

“Be a good seed: when thrown into the sea, become an island; when cast ashore, flourish on a mountain; and when tossed into the sky, form a cloud.

“As we get older, we will find that we only have two hands, one to help ourselves and the other to help others.

“With every step I take in volunteerism, I increasingly realise that every effort, no matter how small, can have a big impact on the lives of others.

“Therefore, I am determined to continue this journey and invite more individuals to jointly carry out humanitarian missions for the betterment of society,” she said, who is now planning to continue her studies at the doctoral degree (PhD) level.

By: Nur Hartini Mohd Hatta, Centre for Corporate Communications

Translation by: Dr.  Rozaimi  Abu  Samah, Faculty   of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology