M’sian father of four proves it’s never too late to chase your dreams.
In a story that proves perseverance and passion know no age limit, 59-year-old Dr Mohamad Idris Rosdi spent over RM100,000 to achieve his lifelong dream of earning a PhD.
A journey meant for 3 years… that took 9 instead
Originally expected to complete his Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in three years, Dr Mohamad Idris’ academic journey ended up stretching to nine years.
The delay was caused by a mix of pandemic disruptions, work commitments, and the fact that he had to travel regularly between his home in Miri, Sarawak and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) on the Peninsula.
But despite the hefty price tag and long travel hours, he never gave up.
I was willing to spend and travel back and forth because I want more people from the Melanau community to be educated and have higher education qualifications.”
Over RM100K in expenses
According to Harian Metro, Dr Mohamad Idris revealed that his total cost exceeded RM100,000—including flight tickets, hotel stays, and other travel expenses throughout the duration of the distance learning (PJJ) programme.
To support his studies, he continued running his training and consultancy business in Sarawak, while also making monthly trips to Kelantan for his classes.
I would attend one subject per month, and praise be to God, I managed to complete the programme.”
He added that UMK helped ease the process by sending lecturers to Sarawak for certain lessons, which played a crucial role in helping him stay on track.
Dr Mohamad Idris said that he specifically chose UMK due to its strong emphasis on entrepreneurship—something that resonated with his own professional background in the security and business sectors.
And finally, after nine years of tireless effort, his determination paid off.
His hard-earned achievement was made even sweeter with the presence of his proud wife, Rabiah Othman, and their daughter, Nurul Farhanah, who travelled from Sarawak to witness his graduation ceremony at UMK’s 14th convocation.
A proud moment for a man who not only achieved his dream but also paved the way for others in his community to believe that it’s never too late to learn.
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