KOTA KINABALU: Unlike most parents, rubber tapper Jaliusih Madakol had to borrow money to attend his daughter's STPM result announcement here.
But it was worth every cent as his daughter, Arnie, 20, scored a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) for her STPM examinations.
Arnie, a student of SMK Tun Fuad Stephens, is among 75 students who received honours from Sabah Education (PPD Sector Planning and Management) deputy director Mohd Zaini Yanin at Kolej Tingkatan Enam Kota Kinabalu.
Jaliusih said he looked for all ways and means to ensure Arnie, himself, and his wife were present to celebrate this achievement for the family.
"I only have a motorcycle and a Proton Saga that is always breaking down. My car is from the era when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was the Prime Minister in the 1990s.
"The farthest it can go is up to Tamparuli town, about 30 minutes from our home," he said, adding that they had to hire a taxi from the town to the venue, which is another 30 minutes away.
Jaliusih is from Sinansag Kiulu in Tamparuli, and earns between RM200 and RM300 per month. The return taxi fare cost RM120.
"I had no other choice but to borrow money from several villagers just to ensure we managed to get here. It is a joyous occasion.
"But when Arnie furthers her studies to a higher level, as she aspires to become a teacher, our family will have to seek financial support from other relatives," he said.
Arnie, the third of five siblings, is the sole student from SMK Tun Fuad Stephens who scored 4.0 in her STPM examination. Kolej Tingkatan 6 Tawau had the highest number of students who excelled in the examination, with a total of eight.
In Sabah, 7,618 candidates registered for the three-semester STPM examination last year, but only 7,001 sat for it.
Fifty-nine schools achieved a 100 per cent pass rate last year.
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