For this Malaysian father-daughter duo, aviation is a family affair

Both father and daughter share a deep passion for flying. Photos: Samantha Laura John

When it comes to aviation, Samantha Laura John, 26, is truly a chip off the old block.

The daughter of veteran Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) fighter pilot Lieutenant-Colonel (R) John Sham Alagarsamy, 54, she graduated from flight school in Ipoh in 2025 as a qualified pilot, continuing her father’s passion for flying.

(Right) John and Samantha share a deep bond.

“I grew up on air force bases, so from a young age I was familiar with the sound of fighter jets roaring across the sky. I was about 14 when I realised I wanted to become a pilot,” she says.

“I have always been fascinated by aeroplanes and people in uniform. Growing up, I would see my father go on ‘missions’ – training for combat readiness and navigation exercises. I was always so proud to have a father serving the nation,” she adds.

At the time, female pilots were still rare, but that only solidified her determination to pursue aviation.

John chips in: “I always hoped my children would follow in my footsteps, but I never forced them. I always told them that if they aim for the stars, at least they’d reach the sky. The bigger your dreams, the greater your success – you have to dream it before you achieve it.”

John served 26 years in the RMAF as a fighter pilot, instructor and examiner before transitioning to commercial aviation in 2019.

We bet that 26 years ago, John never imagined his daughter would one day follow in his footsteps. Photo: Lieutenant-Colonel (R) John Sham

He is also the country’s first and only civil aviator recognised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia for aerobatics.

Over the years, he has performed at major airshows, including the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima), flying the GB1 GameBird aircraft in aerobatic displays.

Beyond aviation, John is also a musician and professional deejay, known by his moniker “Scratchman”. In 1992, he won the Malaysian Open DJ Competition during the vinyl and turntablism era.

Although Samantha holds a pilot’s licence, she is currently based in Kota Kinabalu, where she runs an event management company with her husband, David Chong, 30. She also teaches vocal coaching on the side.

She hopes to eventually return to aviation and pursue a career in commercial flying.

Despite busy schedules and different cities, John and Samantha cherish time together, bonding over shared stories and their love for aviation. Photo: The Star/Sheela Chandran

A shared bond

Samantha was recently in town to visit her mother, businesswoman Lynda Shanti Ganesaguru, 45, and her brother Shayne Zacchaeus John, 22, who live in the Klang Valley.

John, now the head of training at a flying school in Ipoh, also made the trip to spend the weekend with his family.

Over lunch at an Indonesian restaurant, the father and daughter shared stories and laughter as they reminisced about their years living on different air force bases across Malaysia.

John takes young Samantha on a ride.

“Growing up, we spent more time packing boxes than unpacking them,” Samantha says with a laugh.

“Dad’s postings took us from Labuan to Kuantan, Alor Setar and Butterworth in Penang, before I was even in primary school.”

While frequent relocations were challenging at times, she says they shaped her upbringing in meaningful ways.

“Living on air bases exposed me to a very disciplined environment and a strong sense of purpose. I also saw firsthand the responsibility RMAF pilots carry in safeguarding Malaysia’s airspace and maritime borders.”

In 2012, the family moved to Canberra when John was attached to the Australian Defence Force while pursuing his master’s degree in military and defence studies from the Australian National University.

That experience, Samantha says, broadened her understanding of defence and aviation in an international context.

“It gave me a wider perspective about military cooperation and aviation systems. It was a very formative period for me.”

'No matter how high you fly, it’s important to stay grounded and never forget where you came from,' says Samantha.

Children following in their parents’ footsteps is not new, and in the aviation field, this is no exception.

In Malaysia and beyond, many children of pilots have gone on to pursue similar careers. One such example is sisters Safia Amira Abu Bakar and Safia Anisa Abu Bakar, who followed their father Captain Abu Bakar Shafie into aviation.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s social science journal Sains Humanika published a study in 2019 that notes parents play a significant role in shaping career aspirations through exposure, support and guidance.

Titled “Parental Influence and Undergraduates’ Career Choice Intentions”, the study says strong parent-child relationships, communication and trust can influence career decisions by encouraging exploration and long-term planning.

The sky’s the limit

Samantha says her parents always encouraged her to pursue her own interests. While aviation fascinated her from a young age, she initially chose to explore a different path after completing her International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).

In 2018, she enrolled in a two-year cadet pilot programme with an airline in Sepang, Selangor.

'Once you’re flying, you have to be fully focused and aware of your surroundings,' says Samantha.

However, her plans were disrupted when the pandemic struck, preventing her from completing the course. She subsequently joined an ice cream brand in Damansara Jaya, Selangor, where she started as an ice cream scooper and worked her way up to manager over the next five years.

Although the role was rewarding, she eventually realised it was not the right fit, as her passion for aviation continued to grow stronger.

“I’ve always wanted to be a pilot,” says the jovial woman. “Sure, I tried a different path, but deep down, I always knew I would come back to aviation.”

And now that she’s gotten her licence, she says it’s therapeutic when she’s up in the air. “Once you’re in the cockpit, you have to be fully focused and aware of your surroundings. You’re always looking ahead, thinking ahead, and staying situationally aware. It’s almost like working in six dimensions.”

While Samantha shares a close bond with her father, there is also a deep sense of respect in the way she speaks to him – something that is clearly rooted in her upbringing and strong family values. It reflects the manners and discipline instilled in her from a young age, John shares.

Samantha (left) with Lynda.

“As a senior military officer, I lead in the air force, but leadership starts with the example you set in your family. Without dreams, you lose direction; without discipline, you lose altitude. If my journey has taught me anything, it is that success is not measured solely by rank, achievements or titles.

"It is measured by the positive impact we leave on others, especially our children, who often learn more from what we do than what we say,” says John, who received the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (Kesatria Angkatan Tentera) during his RMAF service.

Samantha adds: “Dad always reminds us of our roots and the hardships we went through. As much as we understand, we must never forget where we came from.”

Samantha occasionally serves as an airshow commentator when her father performs an aerobatic display, drawing on her knowledge of aviation terminology and manoeuvres to help audience better understand the air show.

Since they are both music enthusiasts, it is no surprise that they bond over it too.

Father and daughter sing together at Samantha’s wedding.

Once a month, John travels to Kota Kinabalu to perform music from the swinging 1960s to current chart toppers at a beach resort in Tuaran along-side Samantha, with Shayne occasionally joining them on drums.

“Since Samantha is involved in event management, she helps organise my shows. Even though we live apart, I always look forward to performing together,” John adds.

“I usually fly in on Friday, perform on Saturday and return to KL on Sunday. What I enjoy most is spending time with everyone. Family values and bonds are very important to us,” says John, adding that he and his son performed at Samantha’s wedding in Kota Kinabalu last year.

John says his mother, Jessey Jeseph (right), has been his pillar of strength. Photo: Lieutenant-Colonel (R) John Sham

It is clear that while Samantha continues to soar in her career, she remains firmly grounded, shaped by her upbringing, her experiences, and her father’s steady guidance.

So how is Samantha planning to spend Fathers Day this year?

“Ah, we will have an LDR (long distance relationship) celebration this year,” she quips.

“We’ll go to our favourite restaurants in KL and KK ourselves, then have a date in spirit. But we’ll call lah.”

Spoiler alert: A little bird told us that John’s favourite flower comes in shades of yellow. They may just make an appearance this Sunday.