The 26th Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Convocation Ceremony took a poignant turn as the parents of the late Dr Nornazirah Ahmad Kamarudin received her Doctorate in Public Health on her behalf.
The emotional moment unfolded on Saturday, 7 December, as her father, Ahmad Kamarudin Ibrahim, stepped forward to accept the degree.
Photo via Facebook (Universiti Malaysia Sabah)
Dr Nornazirah, who completed her doctoral thesis at UMS's Flexible Education Centre, tragically passed away in April this year from ovarian cancer at the age of 36. Despite her untimely death, her remarkable dedication and perseverance were honoured during the ceremony.
Visibly moved yet proud, Ahmad Kamarudin, received the degree from the Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Juhar Mahirrudin. In a Facebook post shared by UMS, he expressed his gratitude to the university for recognising his daughter's unwavering commitment. "Thank you to UMS for guiding my daughter throughout her journey. Though it was cut short, Alhamdulillah, her hard work paid off," he said.
Dr Nornazirah's mother, Tursina Abdul Rahman, spoke about her daughter’s resilience in the face of adversity. Diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer in 2023, she revealed how her daughter continued working on her thesis while undergoing treatment in Sabah.
"And I think the saddest part for me was the topic she chose for her PhD thesis, which was cancer. Even while she was sick, she would open her laptop to complete her thesis," Tursina shared, her voice tinged with both pride and sorrow.
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Before pursuing her doctorate, Dr Nornazirah served at the Penampang Health Clinic. Her mother recounted how she had envisioned starting a family with her husband of four years. "Nornazirah was a good daughter with high spirits and vision. It deeply saddens me that she had to leave us so early," she said tearfully.
The ceremony served as a heartfelt tribute to Dr Nornazirah's indomitable spirit and a reminder of the enduring love and pride her family holds for her, even in her absence.
