Determined to become a doctor, woman to sit for SPM at 36
Sinar Harian reported that Rusni Shafiya Ruslan will sit for three science papers — Biology, Physics and Chemistry — with the unwavering support of her family and friends.
"Even though I am almost 40, their encouragement keeps me going," she said.
Rusni said her mother was initially amused when she expressed her wish to retake SPM, but her sister, Dr Nur Hanisa Ruslan, a surgeon, has been a strong source of motivation.
"Being surrounded by friends and acquaintances in the medical field also deepened my interest in hospital life and medicine. Hearing their experiences made me eager to learn more about the world of healthcare," she said.
The mother of three said she had to set aside her ambition in the past due to financial constraints and family responsibilities. However, this year, she decided it was time to take the leap.
"My focus now is on retaking the essential SPM subjects. After that, I plan to enroll in a university foundation programme, which I prefer over Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) as it is more intensive and closely aligned with the university environment," she said.
Rusni says it will take about six years to complete her medical studies if everything goes according to plan.
While she has yet to decide on a specialty, she is interested in obstetrics and gynaecology or paediatrics.
"But I am keeping my options open and looking forward to exploring different fields during my studies. I believe that with effort and support, my dream can become a reality," she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Focus Malaysia
2 days ago
- Focus Malaysia
World-class healthcare at affordable prices draws foreign patients
MALAYSIA has strategically positioned itself as a leading healthcare destination on the global stage, attracting a growing number of international patients seeking high-quality, affordable medical care combined with a pleasant travel experience. 'The country's healthcare sector is also attractive for investments, underpinned by several key factors,' said MBSB in a recent report. Among them are the world-class quality medical care and advanced facilities, high accreditation and standards that ensures adherence to global benchmarks for patient safety and quality of care and the high-skilled professionals trained in leading institutions globally. Also, Malaysia has state-of-the-art technology allowing advanced treatments across various specialties, affordable and competitive pricing for treatments, often offering savings of over 50% for similar procedures to Western countries and regional counterparts. The healthcare sector also has regulated cost on certain procedures and services, transparent healthcare plans, easy accessibility and connectivity to medical facilities, and easy communication due to multilingual and multicultural medical staff. Malaysia as a global halal hub, promotes halal-certified medications and respect for patient modest, and it will benefit from the booming medical tourism, supported by upmost hospitality. However, the country is moving from a developing to a high-income nation, and its healthcare system is grappling with the complexities that come with this transition. The epidemiological shift from communicable to NCDs, coupled with an aging population, reflects a maturing society that now faces diseases of affluence and lifestyle. The challenges are no longer just about basic access (which has largely been achieved in Peninsular Malaysia), but about quality, efficiency, equity, and sustainability in the face of rising costs and demand. Malaysia is not adhering rigidly to one ideological model (fully public or fully private). Instead, it's embracing a pragmatic, dual-tier system with increasing public-private partnerships (PPPs). The government's continued heavy subsidization of public healthcare and the active pursuit of UHC through various initiatives (PeKaB40, SPM, National Health Fund exploration) demonstrate a fundamental commitment to ensuring that healthcare remains a right for all citizens, not just a privilege. This is evident by the Budget 2025's allocation of RM45.3b for the local healthcare sector. The willingness to address high OOP payments also directly signifies a focus on financial risk protection for its citizens. MoH's emphasis on digitalization, data analytics, and value-based healthcare also indicates a forward-looking approach, recognizing that technology and efficiency are critical for future sustainability. Beyond providing care for its citizens, Malaysia actively promotes itself as a leading healthcare destination. As of writing, Malaysia was announced as the number one destination for medical tourism, with over RM2 bil revenue generated per year on average from over 1.3 bil foreigners seeking medical help using local facilities and infrastructure for treatments and surgeries. This also demonstrates an understanding of healthcare's dual role as a social service and a significant contributor to the national economy, attracting foreign exchange and creating high-value jobs. The Global Halal Hub aspect further showcases a strategic niche marketing approach that caters to specific global demographics. All in all, Malaysia is in a critical phase of healthcare transformation. It has a strong foundation, a clear understanding of its complex challenges, and an ambitious roadmap for reform. The success of this journey will depend on its ability to effectively implement these strategic changes, foster collaboration between its public and private sectors, and sustain the political will to navigate the inherent difficulties of such comprehensive reforms, ultimately aiming for a truly equitable, high-quality, and sustainable healthcare system for all its people. We reiterate our positive call for the sector, backed by the strong drivers that will continue to feed the sector's growth in the near term. —July 21, 2025 Main image: Arab Watch Coalition
The Star
15-07-2025
- The Star
'We just help women facing marital challenges', say eHati founders
PETALING JAYA: Diana Tahir and Rahim Shukor, the co-founders of marital motivation group Ehati International Sdn Bhd (eHati), have stepped forward to address allegations about their company's programmes, Sinar Harian reports. Referring to a statement released Tuesday (July 15), the Malay language daily reported that the couple clarified their programmes were designed to help women find happiness, peace, and heal trauma through Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) approaches. They explained that the modules were developed to guide participants through effective emotional management techniques. "There are also programmes aimed at helping married women who may be facing challenges in their marital relationships, including confusion about their bodies and emotions," they said. Regarding allegations of inappropriate massage-based elements, the couple clarified that the actual method was adapted from a combination of pelvic floor and Thai massage. "This method has been customised to align with local values and does not involve any other religious rituals. It is also an optional module, and participants are not required to follow it," they explained. Previously, the public was startled by a social media user's claims about the programmes conducted by the couple. In a recent Facebook post, it was alleged that two women performed an inappropriate dance during a programme held at a convention centre in Shah Alam, Selangor. It was also claimed that participants were given a drink with unknown contents that could change their moods quickly. The Facebook user also alleged that participants were instructed to undergo activities resembling other religious rituals. Diana and Rahim emphasised that the activities described as rituals were actually breathwork sessions, and the flower decorations were provided by the hotel, not part of any specific programme or ritual, Sinar Harian reported. They also denied claims that the drink given to participants, called "Piya", contained illicit or illegal substances. Diana and Rahim clarified that the beverage is a blend of pure cocoa, honey and natural spices, specially formulated to help calm the mind. "This drink does not contain any illegal substances or 'magic mushrooms' as alleged," they said. The couple also announced plans to take legal action against those who made defamatory statements about their company, saying that a police report was filed on Saturday (July 12) to demand a comprehensive investigation. "We have also reported this matter to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and are ready to provide full cooperation," they confirmed.
The Star
15-07-2025
- The Star
From young athlete to bedridden cancer patient
Compiled by DIVYA THERESA RAVI , and R. ARAVINTHAN AN 11-year-old girl, who used to be active in sports, now spends her days bedridden after being diagnosed with bone cancer, Sinar Harian reported. Rozita Nazari said her daughter, Siti Nor Khalisah Mustaza Abdullah, complained that her legs were aching after she fell during a long-jump in January. 'At that time, I didn't think it was serious and only applied ointment on her because she didn't complain of significant pain. 'However, a month later, she suddenly cried and said her leg hurt very much,' the mother said. Rozita, 47, took her daughter for an X-ray and later brought her to Hospital Tuanku Jaafar. She was hospitalised for three weeks and was diagnosed with bone cancer on May 28. Siti Nor Khalisah is currently seeking treatment at Hospital Tunku Azizah in Kuala Lumpur. > Snakes having a 'staycation' in a home located in Jasin have become a housewife's worst nightmare, Kosmo! reported. Siti Nor Hajar Bidin, 50, said she was traumatised after finding snakes in her house just a month after moving in. 'I did not expect to experience such a frightening incident right after moving in here. We had to call the Civil Defence Force three times within a month. 'In the latest incident, a black snake crawled under my child's bed. I screamed when I saw it. Luckily, it did not bite my child.' She suspects the problem stems from an abandoned home and unkempt bushes nearby. 'I lodged an online complaint to the Jasin Municipal Council, but there was no action. Last week, I also complained at the Jasin district office,' she added. > Fans congratulated Bella Astillah's son for completing a triathlon while cheekily noting that he was following in the footsteps of his 'papa', Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Kosmo! Online reported. The Muar MP is also a triathlon enthusiast and a close friend of Bella, a singer and actress. Syed Saddiq also praised Ayden Adrean for completing the triathlon at just eight years old. Although Ayden is not his biological child, Syed Saddiq has been seen as constantly providing support to Bella's children. (The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.)
