Memorable milestone: Shahmi (far left) and Shafeeq with their parents on graduation day.
From top uni to leading firms, Shah Alam duo share their recipe for success
HAVING a good command of the English language has served twin brothers Muhammad Shafeeq Abdul Reezal and Muhammad Shahmi Abdul Reezal well.
This is why the 23-year-olds from Shah Alam, Selangor, believe that strong English proficiency is a significant asset.
Both recent first-class honours graduates in accounting and finance from the London School of Economics (LSE) in the United Kingdom, they have set their sights on scaling great heights in the working world.
Shafeeq has just started his professional journey at EY London, specifically in its Banking & Capital Markets division, under its Assurance (Audit) Graduate Programme. As part of the programme, he will complete professional accounting exams and work towards qualifying as a chartered accountant.
Shahmi has joined Goldman Sachs in London as an analyst and is working towards a Chartered Financial Analyst qualification.
Shafeeq said having strong English proficiency as a student allowed him to better understand and appreciate the content he was learning, making it easier to express his thoughts and ideas on paper.
“This was especially true during my A-Levels, particularly in my History papers, where having an excellent command of English was paramount to scoring well,” he told StarEdu.
“Having a good command of English is important, especially if you want to pursue your studies in the Anglosphere.
“Without strong English proficiency, your academic options are definitely limited,” he asserted.
Shahmi noted that while strong English proficiency is an asset, its importance depends on the path one chooses.
“Bahasa Malaysia has its own merits as a teaching medium in local universities,” he said.
The duo, who received their graduation scrolls on July 17, also cited other factors that contributed to their achieving first-class honours at one of the world’s top universities.
Shafeeq said perseverance and external support were just as crucial.
“There were many moments when I felt that even achieving a second upper would be impossible. I had chosen some of the most challenging subjects in my course, such as financial modelling and quantitative economics. But I persevered and pushed through the difficulties.
“Of course, the immense support of my friends and family played a big part in helping me overcome the odds,” he said.
He added that being strategic was also vital to his success.
“I knew it wasn’t practical for me to aim for first-class grades in all of my subjects, so I focused on those where I had a higher chance of scoring well. That strategy played out well,” he shared.
Shahmi said staying calm helped him navigate the stress and challenges of being a tertiary student overseas.
“I kept my head down and pushed to do my best. It’s always good to stay level-headed and take each day as it comes,” he said.
They also benefited from being in the same degree programme, said Shafeeq.
“It certainly made things easier in some aspects. Throughout our degree, we took the same modules. This wasn’t by coincidence but a deliberate choice to ensure we could easily study the subjects. It was the same tactic we used for our A-Levels.
“Shahmi was basically my academic sparring partner, someone I could rely on to discuss material,” he shared.
Despite the academic challenges he faced at LSE, Shafeeq said the journey to enrolling in the university was “so much harder” than completing his education there.
“This isn’t to say that studying at LSE was by any means easy, but the intense competition to secure a spot was definitely something I’m glad I overcame successfully,” he said.
He advised students aspiring to enrol in the university to “showcase your hunger for acquiring knowledge”.
“Unlike universities in the United States, those in the UK place a massive emphasis on a desire to learn, rather than on extracurriculars.
“Students who can clearly show the lengths they’ve taken to learn material beyond their level are highly preferred.
“This is, in my opinion, the most important aspect to showcase in the personal statements that you submit to UK universities, such as LSE.
“Of course, to complement your efforts, you also need to have good grades,” he said.
He also believes that taking an extra subject beyond the usual minimum of three A-Level subjects required by UK universities, as well as achieving 4A*s, contributed to his gaining a spot at LSE.
Shahmi’s advice to students seeking to excel in their studies is to “appreciate what you learn”.
“Make sure that the concepts click in your head and that you can see the bigger picture. If you’re enthusiastic about your syllabus, results will follow. You can’t go wrong there,” he said.
Even while being committed to their studies, the twins made time for extracurricular activities.
Shafeeq served as the president of the LSE Asean Society and, during his free time, went on hikes, with his most memorable moment being the completion of his first mountain summit at Yr Wydffa (Mt Snowdon), the highest mountain in Wales.
Shahmi, who also took up hiking across the UK, found the courage to fly a Cessna plane as part of the LSE Aviation Society.
Looking ahead, the siblings are eager to find their feet in the world of accounting and finance.
Shafeeq said becoming a chartered accountant has always been his long-term goal.
“I draw heavy inspiration from my mum, who started out at Arthur Andersen London as an auditor and later became a chartered accountant.”
Shahmi said he has always wanted to work in corporate finance.
“I feel that an investment bank is the best place to start a career before bringing the knowledge I gain back to Malaysia,” he said.
Their parents, Dr Abdul Reezal Abdul Latif and Nik Faizanira Nik Affandi, expressed pride in their sons’ resilience and dedication.
They said the twins sat for their A-Levels during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and began their university studies amid strict health protocols, including regular polymerase chain reaction testing and various campus restrictions.
“Despite the unprecedented circumstances, Shafeeq and Shahmi remained focused on their goals. Their achievement is a testament to their hard work and adaptability in the face of adversity,” they said in a statement.
Charis, 21, a student in Kuala Lumpur, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
