From sky-gazer to sky-master: 'Sting' owns the airways [WATCH]
Today, the 46-year-old Langkawi native, known by his call sign "Sting", pilots the Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF) Sukhoi SU-30MKM, the nation's most advanced multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA).
"It all began here in Langkawi. I remember looking up at the fighter jets and telling myself, 'one day I'll fly over this very sky'.
"And alhamdulillah, that dream came true," he told the New Straits Times.
Norazan fulfilled that childhood vow, performing aerobatics over the island at this year's Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima '25), the same skies he once stared up at.
This year's Lima held a special meaning as Norazan was entrusted to be the backseater with the air force chief, General Tan Sri Asghar Khan Goriman Khan, in a high-profile aerobatic display.
Their eye-catching aircraft was also draped in a special livery, symbolically named "Toruk Makto", after the mythical flying creature from the science fiction film Avatar.
"We say only the chosen few can tame this iron beast.
"So, in the RMAF, those who can fly it are considered elite, similar to 'Toruk Makto'," he said.
Norazan said he joined the RMAF in 1997, and a decade later, began flying the SU-30MKM Flanker.
The aircraft, he said, demands high-level mastery, with its complex systems taking years to fully understand.
"To fly the SU-30MKM, you must first qualify as a fighter pilot, and that begins with rigorous academic and flight training.
"The systems on board require fast learning and exceptional discipline. It's not for just anyone."
Now, he leads the very heart of the nation's Sukhoi operations, as the commanding officer of Gong Kedak air base in Terengganu.
Asked what advice he had for young Malaysians, especially those who dream of becoming fighter pilots, Norazan offered a message steeped in experience.
"You need strong discipline, mental and physical fitness, and a high level of patriotism.
"And don't forget English... all the manuals, training, and systems are in English. You have to be ready," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Teachers embrace fun newspaper lessons
Pasir Gudang teachers taking part in the Star-NiE workshop at SMK Taman Daya 2 in Johor Baru. — Courtesy photos OVER 100 teachers immersed themselves in fresh and engaging English language activities during The Star's Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) workshop. One of the participants, SMK Seri Kota Puteri teacher Siti Nadia Saff'ai Hanan, said she had never used newspapers in the classroom. 'It was our first time being exposed to activities like a newspaper scavenger hunt and even making songs from articles. 'We never knew such creative teaching methods existed. 'It really opened our eyes to how fun and flexible English lessons can be,' she said. Inspired by the workshop, Siti Nadia said she wasted no time in putting into action the ideas she had learnt. On that very day, she went on to conduct the same session with all six English language teachers at her school in Masai. 'I decided to share what I had learned from the session with English teachers from my school as I believe it will also help them make learning the language fun,' she said. Siti Nadia has shared what she learnt at the workshop with her fellow teachers. B. Subash, from SJK (T) Ladang Mount Austin, Johor Baru, expressed hope for similar sessions to be made available to all English language teachers. 'I've always heard about the NiE workshop, and we have been requesting for it since last year after having getting positive feedback from teachers in other districts. 'True enough, the workshop activities captured everyone's attention and got both senior and new teachers on our feet. 'The only drawback was the limited time of the workshop, as we only managed to try out two activities together,' said Subash, who has been a teacher for 20 years. Pasir Gudang School Improvement Specialist Coach Plus officer Nurulha Abd Rahman, who invited The Star to conduct the workshop, said the training was especially relevant for new teachers working with students struggling in English. Subash hopes all English language teachers can benefit from Star-NiE. 'With 21 years of teaching experience, I have seen how difficult it can be for students with Tahap Penguasaan 1 or mastery level 1 (TP1) and TP2 for English, especially those who cannot read or write in the language. 'NiE is practical and engaging as it offers real-world content that makes learning meaningful. 'It is helpful especially for teachers who need a different approach,' she said. Held at Dewan Imtiyaz in SMK Taman Daya 2, Johor Baru, the workshop was organised in collaboration with Pasir Gudang District Education Office (PPD). The morning session was attended by 37 secondary school teachers while 75 primary school teachers joined the afternoon session. Nurulha: Teachers are eager to put what they have learnt into practice. Nurulha also noted the importance of incorporating newspaper-based English teaching, especially with the growing number of new teachers in the district. 'The hands-on activities introduced by Star-NiE trainer Shoba Rani Dev created a fun and interactive environment. 'Even the teachers were as excited as children. They are eager to try out what they have learnt with their students,' Nurulha added.
Herald Malaysia
a day ago
- Herald Malaysia
Pope Leo XIV's marriage advice? Keep calm and pray the rosary
Pope Leo XIV recently offered marriage advice to a young American couple days after their wedding, sharing how he was blessed by the example of his own parents who prayed the rosary together every day. Jul 03, 2025 Newlyweds Anna and Cole Stevens meet Pope Leo XIV at the general audience in Rome on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. | Credit: Courtesy of Anna and Cole Stevens By Courtney Mares Pope Leo XIV recently offered marriage advice to a young American couple days after their wedding, sharing how he was blessed by the example of his own parents who prayed the rosary together every day. Newlyweds Cole and Anna Stevens received Pope Leo's personal blessing for their marriage during one of the pope's first general audiences under the hot Roman summer sun on June 11, just four days after their wedding at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Birmingham, moment, captured on video, became an unexpectedly intimate exchange with the American pope, who responded warmly to their question of how best to pray together as a married couple. 'First of all, it is very important to go slowly and to find the style of prayer that works for you and your spirituality,' Pope Leo replied in English. 'My parents prayed the rosary together their whole lives every day,' the pope said. 'I found that I was always blessed by their love for one another and their faith in God … It's a wonderful thing.' The Stevenses, who now live in Pensacola, Florida, approached the crowded general audience in their wedding attire unsure if they would even get the chance to meet the pope. They were one of about 65 newlywed couples in St. Peter's Square that day to receive the pope's ''sposi novelli' blessing,' an opportunity that the Vatican offers each week to Catholics within six months of their wedding. 'We prayed a rosary while we were waiting for the audience [to begin] because we were in the square at 8 a.m.,' Cole said. 'And the question that really came to my heart while we were praying the rosary [was] how can we deepen our faith, our prayer life inside of our marriage?' Anna recalled how Pope Leo responded to Cole's question as if there was no one else in the crowd at that moment. 'There was no rush in his voice. There was no looking around… He was solely focused on the question that Cole asked and then how could he answer it to the best of his abilities,' she said. After the exchange, the couple gave the pope a prayer card from their wedding. 'Then we asked for his personal blessing, which he gave to us … laying hands on us and blessing us.' 'He just entrusted us to the Holy Family,' Anna added, 'and prayed over us that the Holy Family would watch over us, protect us, guide us, and lead us.' Unbeknownst to Pope Leo, Cole had been holding a relic of the Holy Family — cloth that had touched St. Joseph's staff, Our Lady's veil, and Jesus' manger — when he blessed them. A match made in heaven Cole, 24, originally from Colorado, and Anna, 25, a schoolteacher from Birmingham, Alabama, met on a blind date when Cole was pursuing his master's degree at the University of Alabama. 'My good high school friend had met Cole and was asking Cole what kind of girl he was interested in,' Anna said. 'And Cole threw out there 'a Catholic volleyball player' and she said, 'Well, I have one girl for you.' And that was me.' 'I played volleyball in college and I was her one Catholic friend. And so that was how we started off.' Their relationship grew through long-distance calls and visits between cities in Alabama. 'He took me to the [adoration] chapel on our third date,' Anna remembered. 'And that's where he ended up proposing two years later.' They prayed novenas together for 90 days leading up to their wedding — to St. Joseph, Our Lady of Lourdes, and the Holy Family. Their honeymoon, originally planned for the Amalfi coast, took a surprising turn when they realized the Vatican offered special blessings for newlyweds. 'We were looking at Sorrento and we're like two hours away,' Anna said. 'Why would we skip out on the jubilee year and the Holy Doors? And then when we heard about the 'sposi novelli,' we were like, we have to go.' It was Cole's first time out of the country. 'There's no other experience in my life that I can look back on and say it was truly life-changing and just awe-striking at the same,' he said on meeting Pope Leo. Romantic rosary walks to remember Back in Pensacola, Florida, Pope Leo's advice has already shaped the young couple's routine. 'It's funny,' Anna said. 'At the end of the night we're like, 'Oh my goodness, we haven't said the rosary. We have to say the rosary; Pope Leo told us to pray the rosary.' And so we've built it in.' Their solution? Rosary walks after dinner. 'Our new goal now is after dinner we go on rosary walks every night and that has been one of our favorite parts of the night,' Anna said. 'It has been so peaceful. It is usually right around sunset.' 'We use it as a chance to pray for individual intentions throughout the week,' Cole added. Anna, reflecting on the papal advice, said it's important to work at 'finding, like Pope Leo said, a way that works for you. So for us right now with our stage of life, it's been rosary walks. And every couple will have a different stage and life and how they can pray the rosary together.' What struck Cole most about the pope's advice was its applicability. 'I was surprised at how real it was… It was very practical in the sense of, here's what my parents did, and find out what works for you. … I can actually use this advice.'--CNA
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: 4U2C concert to proceed despite copyright row, group demands apology
KUALA LUMPUR: Despite being embroiled in controversies, including allegations regarding copyright and song ownership, 1990s hip-hop group 4U2C is pressing ahead with their WE 4U2C Live In Concert project. The group, famed for their hit song "Fiona," is set to fulfil their promise to perform at the Idea Live Arena, Petaling Jaya, on Sept 15. Speaking on behalf of 4U2C, Datuk AC Mizal, whose real name is Mizal Zaini, asserted the group's right to stage the concert following guidelines from the Music Authors' Copyright Protection (MACP). "I would like to announce that we have received the MACP permit. This concert will go ahead," AC Mizal said at a press conference today. He further explained, "According to the Malaysian Copyright Act 1987, via MACP, every live performance using 'live' music does not require consent from the songwriter. This is because the songwriter has transferred the ownership rights to MACP for commercialisation." AC Mizal stressed the group's respect for property rights. "We don't want to deny property rights. When issues arise, we will respond, especially regarding property rights. We made this reference before the WE 4U2C Live In Concert project was announced," he added. Also present at the press conference were Shasha Marican, a representative from the organiser, Juss Event Sdn Bhd, their lawyer, Carlos Mak Chuen Yuan from the law firm Tang Kong Hai and Tui, and other members of the music group. The issue surrounding the 4U2C concert arose when composer Man Senoi (real name Othman Masri, 72) and his wife Ramziah Mohamed Noor (62), known as Mama Rap, reportedly disputed 4U2C's intention to stage the concert. Man Senoi and Mama Rap claimed they hold the rights to 25 of the group's songs. To clear their "tarnished name and reputation," AC Mizal announced that the organisers are demanding an apology within 24 hours from several individuals who allegedly issued "untrue and misleading statements" about the concert. "We will not tolerate any false statements and demand an apology within 24 hours," he warned. AC Mizal confirmed that all necessary licences and permits from the authorities have been secured for the concert. "Unfortunately, we discovered that a third party recently issued false statements against 4U2C. So, we demand that they make an open apology to the media and the public within 24 hours," he reiterated, adding that legal action would be taken if the parties involved fail to apologise as requested. AC Mizal expressed surprise that the song ownership issue was raised, especially since he hadn't yet announced which songs would be performed at the concert. "Maybe I'll sing an English, Indian or Chinese song... There must be a certain agenda," he mused. He also claimed that ticket sales for WE 4U2C Live In Concert have been affected by the controversy. "Before this issue arose, 70 per cent of tickets had been sold. Many people may be worried if this concert is cancelled following the controversy that has arisen," he explained. Regarding Man Senoi's claim over the 25 songs, another 4U2C member, Azam, denied the assertion. "I have been a member of MACP since 1992 and am still active. Many people don't know that not all songs in the 4U2C collection are under the ownership of our former manager," Azam clarified. "The hit songs were created by Joe, and I created 'Kami Rapper.' In our first album, Man Senoi only has three songs. We have two full albums and a mini album, and for each album, he (Man Senoi) only composed three songs," Azam elaborated. "He claims that all the songs are his; I'm disappointed. This issue shouldn't have arisen. In fact, about 70 per cent of the songs are ours," he said. Previously, Man Senoi was reported to have claimed that no party, including the concert organisers, had contacted him to request permission regarding the "sound audio" or recording material owned by Zman Productions before the concert was to be staged. 4U2C was a recording artiste under Zman Productions, owned by Man Senoi and Ramziah. However, their relationship reportedly soured after the release of their second studio album, leading to a court dispute that Zman Productions reportedly won.
