THE convocation ceremony at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) was steeped in sorrow as the names of two students who perished in a bus accident on the East–West Highway near Tasik Banding, Gerik, on 9 June were called.
In a deeply moving gesture, it was the parents who ascended the stage to receive the degrees their children had strived so hard to earn. Nurly Shahirah Azman and Fatin Nasrien Fadli were among 15 students killed in the tragic accident.
The posthumous degrees were presented by the Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim, who also serves as UPSI Chancellor, to Nurly Shahirah’s father, Azman Mohamad, 63, and Fatin Nasrien’s father, Fadli Abd Rahman, 50.
Tuanku Zara was seen wiping away tears as she handed over the degrees and viewed a commemorative video montage of the tragedy.
Azman expressed a mixture of pride and grief upon receiving his daughter’s Bachelor of Special Education with Honours.
“When my child’s name was called, I felt happy… but at the same time, sad. Alhamdulillah, I strengthened myself. I did not want to cry on stage, though I was very sad. I tried to smile, but in my heart, I still feel the loss of my daughter,” he said.
Nurly’s elder brother, Mohd Najmuddin, has continued her aspirations by pursuing distance learning in Special Education, determined to complete what she could not.
“He wants to finish what his sister did not have the chance to complete,” Azman added.
Fadli, receiving the scroll on behalf of Fatin Nasrien, who was due to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with Education next year, shared similar sentiments.
“I feel happy and sad at the same time. Happy, yes, but the sadness is greater. She was my hope. As the eldest, she was an example for her siblings. Thank you UPSI for still remembering my child. It means a great deal to us,” he said.
The 27th UPSI convocation, held at the Dewan Tuanku Canselor, Kampus Sultan Azlan Shah, Proton City, continues until 18 November, celebrating a total of 7,173 graduates from various faculties. -November 11, 2025
