Saturday November 7, 2009

Emotional Hazzanarita among the first batch of women graduates of Alam

Story and photo by ALLISON LAI

MALACCA: It was a joyous yet emotional occasion for Nor Hazzanarita Mat Nasir who is among the first batch of women to graduate from the Malaysian Maritime Academy (Alam) yesterday.

The 21-year-old lass from Felda Bukit Goh, Pahang, was on the verge of tears when she received her scroll which she dedicated to her father and late mother.

“In my heart I was saying, Mum, I finally made it!” said Hazzanarita when met after the academy’s 102nd convocation ceremony in Kuala Sungai Baru recently.

Historic day: (From left) Geetha, Hazzanarita and Koh sharing their joy after graduating among the country’s first batch of female mariners, with 10 other women cadets during Alam’s 102nd convocation recently.

Her mother Nasiah Surin passed away two years ago while she was undergoing the first year for her Diploma in Nautical Studies.

“It was exactly one week away from my final exam when I was notified of her death. I did not get to see her for the last time before she passed away, but I know that she would have wanted me to fulfil my dreams,” she said.

Another graduate Koh Poi Khoon, 21, from Pasir Mas in Kelantan was overjoyed at being able to create history by becoming one of the academy’s first women graduates.

The Diploma in Marine Engineering graduate said her accomplishment proved that women could also perform as well as their male counterparts in the field.

As for 23-year-old S. Geetha from Batu Berendam here, who obtained her Diploma in Nautical Studies, working offshore was one of the many challenges of the course.

“As this job is very male-dominant, some of my friends were amazed at my decision to become a mariner,” she said, adding that she used to get sea-sick during initial training but overcame it eventually.

A total of 302 graduates received their diplomas in Nautical Studies and Marine Engineering.

Alam’s chief executive officer M. Adthisaya said the convocation was significant as this was the first time that women were graduating from the academy.

“This proves wrong the adage that ladies, ships and sea water do not mix,” he quipped.

The Transport Ministry set up the Maritime Training Centre in 1977 and was upgraded to an academy in 1981.

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