In sync with varsity journey: Five sets of twins embark on their university adventure at USM, showcasing the power of sibling support and shared dreams. - Photo: LIM BENG TATT/The Star
Ten siblings among 4,807 students registering for new academic session
GEORGE TOWN: The Zolkifly twin sisters – Ainul Mardhiah and Ainul Kamilah – have been inseparable since the day they were born, and that will continue for a while more.
Both of them have been accepted into Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to pursue a degree in Accounting.
Continuing their tradition of togetherness, the 19-year-old sisters will also be staying in the same dormitory.
Before this, they studied at Pahang Matriculation College in Gambang.
“We are grateful to be together, not only in the same course at the same university but in the same dorm as well.
“It makes things easier as we are sharing a laptop, smartphone and printer since our mother cannot afford to by two sets for both of us,” said Ainul Mardhiah, the elder sister.
Knowing that education is the pathway out of hardship, the sisters from Sungai Petani, Kedah, have dedicated themselves to their studies, fuelled by the hope of making their family proud.
Their mother Marina Abdullah, 55, is the sole breadwinner and works as an administrative assistant at the Sungai Petani Municipal Council.
During their time in Pahang, the sisters also sold hijab accessories such as pins online to earn some pocket money.
“Our mother has sacrificed a lot for us. We want to repay her with our hard work,” said Ainul Kamilah, who was among 4,807 students who enrolled in USM for the 2024/2025 academic session.
Another pair of twins who were spotted during the registration was the Tan brothers – Jia Hao and Jia Hong – from Bandar Baru Air Itam, Penang.
Jia Hao will study Medical Physics while Jia Hong will take up Computer Science.
“We are grateful to be able to secure places in USM as it is closer to home.
“If we were offered places in universities out of Penang, it would be a burden as our father runs a food stall at the Farlim market to support the family.
“Being able to stay near our parents’ home is a relief,” said Jia Hao.
The 19-year-old brothers were among five pairs of twins who attended the first day of registration at Dewan Utama Desasiswa at USM yesterday.
Undergraduate Siti Nur Aishah Abdul Rani, who is partially blind, hopes to inspire others.
The 20-year-old, who will study Humanities, is grateful that despite her condition she managed to score a cumulative grade point average of 3.84 in her Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) and 6As in her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
Four Orang Asli students also registered at USM.
Among them was Khaikal Jaafar, 20, the first in his family to enter university.
He said his father Jaafar Yok Tah Toh, 60, and mother Rohani Muda, 49, were the most excited when he got accepted.
“Both of them were happy upon learning that USM would bring me to the campus. My family could not afford to send me here,” he said.
Khaikal aspires to be a teacher so that he can help his community.
He wants to prove that Orang Asli, too, can excel if given the opportunity to learn.
Earlier, USM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed welcomed the students at the hall.
