GROWING up as the daughter
of a pilot, 25-year-old Balqis Amanda Mat Irwani was exposed to the world of aviation from an early age and saw firsthand the discipline and commitment it required.
One of her fondest memories dates back to when she was seven and had the opportunity to step into the cockpit of a plane piloted by her father Capt. Mat Irwani Mat Nawawi, 51, who works with national carrier Malaysia Airlines.
“I still remember excitedly recording videos while I was in the cockpit.
“I pointed at the pilot’s seat and imagined myself sitting there one day,” she told Bernama in a Fathers Day interview at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Nearly two decades later, the elder of two siblings is on the verge of turning that childhood dream into reality as she undergoes training as a cadet pilot with the same airline.
“Growing up, I travelled a lot with my family because of my father’s job.
“When the time came to choose a career, I realised this was exactly what I wanted to do,” she said.
Despite earning excellent results in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination and receiving a scholarship offer to pursue chemical engineering, Balqis Amanda chose a path that felt closest to her heart.
Her decision, however, was not without concern from her father.
The experienced pilot knows that the profession demands far more than technical knowledge and requires mental resilience to cope with pressures of the job.
“I knew she had the academic ability. What I was unsure about was whether she could handle the pressure, the simulator training and the rigorous preparation required to become a pilot,” said Mat Irwani.
Those concerns prompted him to help her prepare for her training, including testing her ability to cope with pressure during revision sessions at home.
“Supporting my daughter’s choice is part of my responsibility as a father.
“I will continue guiding her on her journey to becoming a pilot. I want her to be even better than I am.”
Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) Engineering Services licensed aircraft engineer Lee Yong Qiang, 33, has also followed in the footsteps of his father Lee Ah Teck, 62, who served as a licensed aircraft engineer with the company for many years before becoming a technical instructor.
Yong Qiang said becoming an aircraft maintenance engineer was not merely about emulating his father, but about carrying forward values he grew up admiring, which included discipline, dedication and a strong sense of responsibility.
“My father was a line maintenance engineer on the frontlines, a man whose quiet strength, unwavering dedication and
ability to balance demanding shift work with family life made him my hero.
“Watching him work with resilience and humility inspired me to follow in his footsteps, and today I proudly stand in the same role as a line maintenance engineer,” he said.
Now working in the same field and under the same company, Yong Qiang said he has developed a deeper appreciation of the challenges his father faced throughout his career, particularly the immense responsibility of ensuring every aircraft is safe before taking off.
For Ah Teck, fatherhood was not only about guiding his son’s career choices but also about being present during his most important years.
After years of demanding shifts in line maintenance, Ah Teck decided to transfer to another department when Yong Qiang was about 12.
“I moved to quality assurance so that I could have more time with my family,” he said.
