Way back in 1990 – the Year of the Metal Horse – a baby boy was born into a humble family in Sabak Bernam, a peaceful small town in the north-western corner of Selangor. According to folklore, the town’s name was derived from Sahabat Berenam – Six Companions – who once settled in the area.
At the age of three, he lost his father. His mother, without formal educational qualifications, became the sole breadwinner for her three sons and her in-laws, striving to fill the void in her children’s young lives.
Despite the quiet awkwardness of Report Card Days – when classmates arrived with both parents – he led a contented childhood until his first lunar cycle of the Year of the Horse. An unremarkable student for the most part, he surprised many in 2002 – the Year of the Water Horse – by achieving 7As or rather, straight As in the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR), then the national examination for Year Six pupils. It was an unforgettable triumph for the little boy, making his mother incredibly proud.
The triumph proved fleeting – his secondary school years returned him to academic modesty, with less distinguished results in Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
He completed Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), his pre-university educaton, at the same school and finally his strong academic performance earned him a place at a government university to pursue engineering.
During his four-year bachelor's degree in the university, he balanced studies with campus life – emceeing events, singing, leading several committees, and organising programmes. Embracing the maxim “you only live once” (YOLO), he made his university years as vibrant as possible. He worked his way through his university life and in 2014 – the Year of the Wood Horse – he graduated and secured a job with an overseas corporate establishment.
As a corporate novice, he worked tirelessly, building skills and advancing his career steadily. From small-town beginnings, he gained international exposure through overseas assignments, negotiations with multinational stakeholders, and immersion in diverse corporate cultures.
Along the way, he came to appreciate a poem studied in school – Si Tenggang’s Homecoming by Muhammad Haji Salleh – whose lines here, a snippet of his poem, resonated ever more deeply.
but look,
i have brought myself home,
seasoned by confidence,
broadened by land and languages,
i am no longer afraid of the oceans
or the differences between people,
not easily fooled
by words or ideas.
the journey was a loyal teacher
who was never tardy
in explaining cultures or variousness.
Now, in 2026 – the Year of the Fire Horse – he marks his third lunar cycle. Thirty-six years of highs and lows have shaped him into a confident and grounded adult, grateful for the milestone and mindful of life’s uncertainties.
Guided still by the belief that one lives but once, he looks ahead with resolve – to move forward steadily and healthily, embracing each present moment and leaving no regrets along the journey.
