KOTA SAMARAHAN: The burning determination and strong spirit of stage-four colon cancer patient Mohamad Shafiee Suhaili, 38, empower him as he leads the parade for Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s (Unimas) 28th Convocation Ceremony, ensuring the event runs flawlessly.
As the parade leader, Shafiee expressed his excitement at leading the honorary parade before Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, noting that the significance of the occasion strengthened his resolve to take on the challenge.
“Thank God, it is a special day for me; it brings back memories as both a Unimas Reserve Officer Training Unit (PALAPES) alumnus and a Unimas graduate. The joy of watching my juniors graduate is immense.
“The most special part is meeting the Head of State face-to-face during the weapon salute. It’s not easy to meet him, even for a brief moment. This is an experience not everyone gets to have,” Shafiee shared his thoughts with reporters at Detar Putra on Monday (Nov 4).
During the 30-minute event, he flawlessly led a parade of approximately 120 participants. Despite his illness, he was determined to deliver his best performance.
“I prepared myself personally. The main focus was on my diet; a month before the event, I avoided spicy foods to ensure my readiness, as one of the symptoms of cancer is digestive issues.
“I also sought the best available medical treatment,” he added.
Shafiee stressed that personal determination is crucial to achieving excellence in any endeavour.
Discussing the training preparations, he mentioned that practice began on Oct 27.
“From that day, we trained every day. On weekdays, we practiced for about two to three hours to achieve the highest level of performance.
“On weekends, we held two sessions at Kenanga College,” he said.
Currently serving as the Deputy Assistant Director at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Tebedu, Shafiee joined the field in 2018.
He is also a Unimas alumnus from the Faculty of Engineering, having graduated in 2013.
Notably, Shafiee was awarded the title of best cadet officer during the PALAPES commissioning in 2011.
