Long life journey

Long life journey

Good evening, my fellow Toastmasters and guests,

1. It’s an absolute pleasure to stand before you today to deliver my Ice Breaker speech at this esteemed PD TMC. This marks my first official step in the exciting journey of public speaking. As tradition goes, I’ll use this opportunity to share a bit about who I am, where I come from, and what brings me here today.

2. I'd like to share my life story as a series of little adventures — some planned, many unexpected. I was born in March 1979 in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan, and spent my early years in a small Malay village about 20 minutes from Sultan Ismail Petra Airport. I am the fifth of nine siblings. Both of my parents were farmers.

3. My childhood was full of adventure. In 1983, my family began migrating from our village to what is now my hometown, mainly due to limited infrastructure. Our old village lacked proper roads, clean water, and electricity. On top of that, saltwater contamination in the paddy fields forced most villagers — mainly our relatives — to relocate to a new township.

4. Growing up in our new home from the age of six was full of joy and new experiences. Everything was exciting to explore. I still remember the day we got our first refrigerator. So thrilled by the new appliance, we experimented by freezing all kinds of liquids — even breaking a glass in the process!

5. I was always curious, shy, energetic, adventurous, and soft-spoken. During primary school, I would often play in the field beside our house, imagining exciting scenes inspired by movies like Star Wars, Rambo, Indiana Jones, and Back to the Future. I also enjoyed Mandarin, Hollywood, Bollywood, and Tamil films.

6. From primary to secondary school, I remained a top student, continuing my journey from childhood to adolescence in my hometown. At 16, I received an offer to study at MRSM Kuala Terengganu. It was my first time living far from family. Most students were from Terengganu and Kelantan, but some came from Perak, Selangor, and Johor. To expand my social circle, I made friends with those from other states.

7. After SPM, I enrolled in the matriculation program at USM in Penang. I embraced new cultures and languages — and discovered delights like nasi kandar and nasi lemak, available 24 hours at roadside stalls. In 1999, I started my Mechanical Engineering degree at USM Seri Iskandar in Tronoh, Perak. After nearly three and a half years, the campus was acquired by Universiti Teknologi Petronas, and we were moved to the new Engineering Campus in Nibong Tebal, Penang.

8. At university, I was very active in the Reserve Officer Training Unit (ROTU). I joined primarily for the allowance, which helped cover some of my expenses. In 2002, we graduated as Young Officers, and USM hosted the graduation ceremony that year.

9. After graduating in 2003, my first job was with a steel manufacturing company in Seberang Prai. A few months later, I returned home at my mother’s request to find a job closer to our hometown. I became a sales engineer, earning RM700 a month while continuing to search for better opportunities. I regularly checked The Star newspaper, especially the 2nd and 3rd Saturday editions. By the end of 2003, I moved to Subang Jaya to work as a process engineer at an electronics manufacturing plant. Then, in March 2004, I relocated to Lahad Datu, Sabah, to begin my career as a Cadet Engineer in the palm oil industry.

10. Arriving at one of the company’s remote mills — three hours from Lahad Datu town — there was no turning back. With limited access to the outside world, I had no choice but to adapt and survive. From 2004 to 2024 — nearly 20 years — I built my career in the palm oil sector, becoming a certified steam engineer and later a manager overseeing both upstream and downstream operations in mills and refineries.

11. In 2019, I joined my current company, which took me to Nilai (Negeri Sembilan), Pasir Gudang (Johor), and Lahad Datu (Sabah). In early March 2025, I was transferred once again to the Nilai plant. I am now scheduled to be transferred to Dumai, Indonesia, within the next three months.

12. Over the past 30 years, I’ve traveled extensively across Malaysia — from Terengganu, Penang, and Perak to Selangor, Sabah, Sarawak, Negeri Sembilan, and Johor. I married a Sabahan and have five children — the eldest is now in pre-university and the youngest in Standard One.

13. Perhaps the most defining part of my journey has been my decision to join Toastmasters. I've always admired great speakers, but I used to struggle with stage fright and articulating my ideas. Joining this club is my way of stepping out of my comfort zone — to grow both personally and professionally. I aspire to become a confident communicator, someone who can inspire and connect with people through words.

14. So here I am — ready to learn, ready to improve, and most importantly, ready to begin this new journey with all of you.

Thank you for giving me this platform. I look forward to the road ahead and getting to know each of you better as we grow together.