Ops Hantar Pelajar Pulang Volunteer, Nik Athirah receives Srikandi Matahari Award

PAYA BESAR, 6 August 2022 – Nik Athirah Nik Mahdi, 24, Ops Hantar Pelajar Pulang volunteer during the Movement Control Order (MCO) was awarded the Srikandi Matahari Award at the Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) 16th Convocation Ceremony.

Sharing her experience helping universities when the country was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, she was involved in Ops Hantar Pelajar Pulang and took care of students’ welfare throughout the MCO.

“I still remember when the government announced the MCO in March 2020, I decided not to go back to my village and stay in UMP throughout the MCO.

“I think that was the best decision I made without regret.

“I feel good to be able to help students during the MCO and consider it a sweet experience that I will never forget,” she said.

Despite her success, she said that every time before the exam, she would call her mother, Zakiah Hamzah to ask for her blessing and listen to her voice as words of encouragement.

According to this Terengganu-born lady, she gifted this success to her parents, who encouraged her throughout her study.

“This success is thanks to my parents' prayer.

“Not forgetting the lecturers, especially Associate Professor Dr. Yudi Fernando who was always patient with students, especially when the country was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Honestly, UMP teaching staff are very helpful to all students in various aspects,” she said.

She said that majority of them were from the industry.

“This can give us first insight into the industry and what we will go through in the working world,” said the graduand of Bachelor of Industrial Technology Management with Honours.

In terms of learning, UMP is unique because the teaching staff consists of people with experience in the industry and UMP has also expanded its cooperation with external companies to improve the marketability of graduates.

She, who obtained a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.59 said, in terms of the content of co-curriculum at UMP, students were given the trust to execute the proposed programmes.

“This approach can manifest empowerment in students.

“With the principle of getting out of the comfort zone, being adventurous, experiencing new things and learning from it, my hope in the future is to graduate at a higher level before turning 30,” she said.

She is currently pursuing her postgraduate study at UMP.

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