Eleven years ago, Norashikin Sarwar was widowed when her husband passed away from illness.
Since then, she has single-handedly raised her family, embracing both the roles of mother and father, and guiding her children toward promising futures.
Raising four children by herself was no easy feat, but she managed with grace and resilience.
Alongside her duties as a mother, she has run a successful local catering business in Bintulu, known and respected in the community for over ten years.
Norashikin’s perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit not only supported her family financially but also instilled a sense of resilience and discipline in her children.
Despite not having the opportunity to pursue higher education, she continually reminded her children that education was their way forward.
Today, her dedication 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, work as technicians in the oil and gas industry, while her youngest son, Muhammad Hijazi Fikri, 20, is preparing to study Electrical Engineering at Institut Kemahiran MARA (IKM) in Bintulu.
Perhaps the jewel in her crown is her third child and only daughter, 24-year-old Nur Shahira Jamila Roslan.
With a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Nur Shahira recently secured a permanent position as an Executive (Operation Engineer) at Malaysia LNG Sdn Bhd (MLNG), a PETRONAS subsidiary.
She’s eager to step into this role after completing her internship through the PETRONAS Graduate Employability Enhancement Scheme (GEES) at MLNG in August 2023.
For Norashikin, it’s a dream come true to see her four beloved children building thriving careers in Malaysia’s oil and gas industry.
Growing up in Bintulu, where engineers in “yellow coveralls” symbolised success, she always hoped her children might join that world.
Now, as her dream becomes a reality, she feels immense pride and fulfillment in their achievements.
“Of course, I feel incredibly proud. I never pushed them to pursue engineering; they’re following their own dreams. Watching them achieve their goals is deeply rewarding for me as a mother. It’s amazing to see how their hard work and passion have paid off, and it gives me hope for my youngest, who is also pursuing engineering.”
Reflecting on her life journey, Norashikin has no regrets.
She has faith in Allah’s plan and believes each step, whether joyful or challenging, has served a purpose in shaping who she is today.
Looking forward, she hopes to continue being a supportive mother in all aspects of her children’s lives, both personally and professionally.
Above all, she wants them to stay grounded and always strive to do their best, no matter how far they go.
For Nur Shahira, the life lessons her mother taught have shaped her into who she is today.
Memories of her late father still bring tears, but she remains steadfast in her ambitions, knowing that her parents’ love and support fuel her journey.
In five years, Nur Shahira envisions herself as a more skilled and knowledgeable engineer, leading by example and inspiring others.
For her, success goes beyond personal achievements; it’s about honouring the love and sacrifices that helped her reach this point and striving to make her mother proud with each step.
Nur Shahira was one of seven Sarawakians offered permanent positions at MLNG in Bintulu by PETRONAS at the Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak 2024 event in Kuala Lumpur on October 19.
At the same event, seven others were offered internships under the Protege-GEES programme at MLNG.
The Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak 2024 programme featured 62 booths, including PETRONAS’.
The event was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof and graced by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Also present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr. Sim Kui Hian and MLNG managing director and CEO, Laga Jenggi.
MLNG, a subsidiary of PETRONAS, operates as part of the PETRONAS LNG Complex (PLC) in Bintulu.
Spanning 276 hectares, PLC is one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities, with a production capacity of nearly 30 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).
