KUANTAN: National sailing athlete and Sea Games gold medalist Nor Nabila Natasha Mohd Nazri has turned her passion for the open waters by embarking on a career with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
The 22-year-old, who has spent countless hours honing her sailing skills at sea since primary school, will soon set foot on an MMEA vessel as she prepares for a three-month job training programme.
Nor Nabila Natasha, who completed her 10-month Maritime Class II Seaman training at the Sultan Ahmad Shah Maritime Academy (AMSAS) here today, said the intense training at sea over the years had prepared her mentally and physically to take up a role in the maritime.
"I love the challenges out at sea but being an athlete participating in sailing competitions and an enforcement officer taking part in sea operations will be different.
"However, I have prepared myself and am eagerly looking forward to my career with MMEA.
"My father was a retired naval officer and now I want to continue my family's tradition. My family had been supportive with my decision to join MMEA," she said when met after the passing out parade at AMSAS here today.
Youngest of two siblings, Nor Nabila Natasha who participated in four editions of the Sea Games - 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019 - winning two gold and four bronze medals, said she has not retired from sailing and might one day return to national duties.
Meanwhile, single mother Nabilah Aisyah Tahir, 31, said she hopes to inspire other single mothers, emphasising that one should never let their past haunt or jeopardise their future.
"I previously worked as a clerk but realised that I needed a new challenge.
"I decided to join MMEA training programme last year and I am now prepared to face the new environment including sailing at sea," said the mother-of-one from Maran near here.
Meanwhile, Noorika, 23, from the Semai tribe said she decided to apply to join MMEA after gathering information about the agency on social media.
"I was previously a cultural performer attached to the Perak state government and have been always interested in serving the uniformed body.
"I did a lot of research about MMEA before deciding to apply for their training programme last year.
"The training programmes were quite challenging but I was determined to stay and prove myself. Now being part of the MMEA community, I hope more people from the Orang Asli community will join me," said Noorika from the Sungai Limau Orang Asli settlement in Kampar, Perak.
The trio were among 75 trainees who completed their Maritime Class II Seaman Training today before MMEA acting director-general Maritime Vice Admiral Datuk Saiful Lizan Ibrahim who witnessed the passing out parade.