ALOR STAR: It was the best graduation gift for Masrani Awang when his mother made a surprise appearance at his convocation ceremony at the Albukhary International University (AIU), here.
The 26-year-old from Sandakan, Sabah received a degree in Business Administration (Hons) specialising in marketing.
He did not expect that his mother would fly to Kedah as he was not from a well-off family, with his parents selling banana fritters and keropok lekor to make ends meet.
Masrani said he did not mind receiving his degree alone, realising the costs of travelling and accommodation for his mother would be too much of a burden.
However, when his mother, Rosmiati Arase, 64, suddenly turned up at the convocation hall, it brought the youngster to tears.
Masrani received the Sharifah Rokiah Special Awards and Vice Chancellor's Award from the AIU today, where he gave an acceptance speech.
When telling his story, Masrani who dedicated the awards to his parents, said he was constantly on video calls with his mother and father, Awang Abdullah, 70, and had always asked for their blessings since enrolling at the university three years ago.
"Three years ago, I had flown alone from Sabah and I was determined not to disappoint my parents. I had to sacrifice not returning home for a very long time due to the Covid-19 pandemic as well as financial constraints.
"I'm thankful for these successes today, which I owe to both my parents, who sell banana fritters and keropok lekor by the roadside. They worked really hard to raise my siblings and I," said Masrani, who is the eldest in the family.
"Seeing my mother at the convocation today, all the way from Sabah, filled my heart with joy because initially, she said that she couldn't come.
"But today, there she is standing in front of me," he said when met after the ceremony.
Recalling his journey, Masrani said he faced various challenges while studying at the university. However, he soldiered through and made friends with some students who were of different nationalities.
As for his short term plans upon graduating, Masrani said he was looking at joining his friends in opening a car accessory shop in Sungai Petani, Kedah, as they wanted to apply the knowledge they acquired in a venture that had growth potential.
Meanwhile, Rosmiati said she was overwhelmed with gratitude.
"Initially, I had decided not to attend the ceremony, due to financial constraints and because I'm quite afraid to travel outside Sabah since the Covid-19 cases are still quite high where I am from.
"However, at the last minute, I decided to get a flight ticket, and see my son receive his scroll as well as the awards. It was a precious memory for me.
"Despite our distance, I've always prayed for his success. I prayed for him when peforming 'solat Dhuha' and 'solat hajat' at midnight on Fridays. Alhamdulillah, Allah heard my prayers," she said.
Also present at the convocation ceremony was AIU founder Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary as well as the university's chancellor, Professor Muhammad Yunus.
AIU vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Abd Aziz Tajuddin said the university has some 900 students from 56 countries, with 80 per cent being Malaysians.
"This is our first convocation and it involves a total of 51 students receiving their bachelors' degree, and 94 others receiving other levels of degrees," he said.