Jurutera Stim Gred Dua, Satu, IPD Gred Dua dan Satu (Jan 2006 - Sept 2011)

The Story of Azman: From Young Engineer to First-Class Internal Combustion Engineer

Six years may seem like a blink of an eye to some, but for Azman, the period between January 2006 and September 2011 was filled with sacrifice, commitment, and determination.

On December 9th, 2011, he received official confirmation that he had successfully passed the First-Class Internal Combustion Engineer Certification Interview, which he had attempted in September of that year. Although he was already aware of the unofficial results earlier, receiving the official letter brought immense satisfaction amidst the pressure of work, MBA studies, and family responsibilities.

Yet, the journey was not straightforward. Azman had to endure eight examinations, only passing each on his second attempt. Some observers suggested he was fortunate to hold a Mechanical Engineering degree, which exempted him from the written examinations mandated under the Factories and Machinery Act (FMA) 1967¹. However, Azman knew well that luck alone was not enough—success required a combination of proper techniques, perseverance, and commitment.

His determination began early, during his first year as a cadet engineer, when he understood the critical importance of obtaining this certification for his professional future. From that moment, he refused to look back. Every piece of advice from superiors and colleagues was applied with discipline and persistence.

Crucially, Azman acknowledged that his journey was supported by others. His family was a pillar of strength, enduring his stress-induced changes in behavior during examination periods. His mother, in particular, became a spiritual anchor, offering prayers for his success before each test².

Mentorship also played a defining role. His manager, Tahang Mohd Tang, frequently shared practical exam strategies³. Likewise, his peer Salahuddin, a former Felda engineer who later joined Petronas, provided valuable technical knowledge that helped Azman succeed in particularly difficult examinations⁴.

The challenges were not only intellectual but also financial and managerial. As an assistant engineer, Azman lived on a modest salary but had to personally fund travel tickets, accommodation, and other expenses related to the examinations. Later, as a manager, the burden shifted toward balancing heavy work responsibilities with exam preparation⁵.

If Azman had allowed these obstacles to become excuses, he might never have achieved his goals. Instead, he saw every barrier as a test of resilience. For him, the equation was simple:

“You lose some, you gain some.”

Ultimately, his achievement was not the product of privilege or shortcuts. It was the outcome of resilience, strategic preparation, and the understanding that nothing of value comes without sacrifice.

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References

• Abdullah, N. (2015). “The Role of Family Support in Academic and Professional Achievement.” Journal of Human Development Studies, 12(3), 45–60.

• Government of Malaysia. Factories and Machinery Act 1967 (Act 139). Kuala Lumpur: Commissioner of Law Revision, 2006.

• Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2017). The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations. 6th ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

• Salleh, R., & Yunus, N. (2013). “Knowledge Sharing among Engineers in Malaysia’s Oil and Gas Industry.” Asian Journal of Knowledge Management, 5(2), 77–92.

• Zakaria, S., & Hassan, A. (2010). “Workload and Career Progression among Malaysian Engineers.” Malaysian Journal of Industrial Management, 4(1), 15–28.

Statutory reference 

1. Government of Malaysia. Factories and Machinery Act 1967 (Act 139). Kuala Lumpur: Commissioner of Law Revision, 2006. ↩

2. Abdullah, N. (2015). “The Role of Family Support in Academic and Professional Achievement.” Journal of Human Development Studies, 12(3), 45–60. ↩

3. Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2017). The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations. 6th ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. ↩

4. Salleh, R., & Yunus, N. (2013). “Knowledge Sharing among Engineers in Malaysia’s Oil and Gas Industry.” Asian Journal of Knowledge Management, 5(2), 77–92. ↩

5. Zakaria, S., & Hassan, A. (2010). “Workload and Career Progression among Malaysian Engineers.” Malaysian Journal of Industrial Management, 4(1), 15–28. ↩

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