KULIM, August 13 – Arif Mahmudi bin Shamsul’s story is one of perseverance and hope. Despite receiving offers for both a Diploma in Material Engineering at a public university in Northern Peninsular Malaysia and a Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (DEE) at Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah (PTSB), financial constraints threatened his education. His father, struggling with a small-scale business, could not afford the university fees, and Arif considered working to ease his family’s burden.
However, Arif’s fortunes changed thanks to Puan Sharipah binti Daud, a lecturer at PTSB, who assured him that the polytechnic fees were manageable and introduced him to zakat and other financial aids. Despite the loss of his father two days before registration, Arif enrolled at PTSB with renewed determination. Supported by his cousin and uncle, Arif’s journey exemplifies resilience and the transformative power of education, embodying the hope for a brighter future for his family.
