KOTA BHARU - Two graduates of Sultan Petra International Islamic College University (KIAS) did not let chronic illness stand in the way of receiving their scrolls at the university’s 24th Convocation Ceremony here yesterday.
Diploma graduate Muhammad Arsyad Muhammad Ghazali, 23, attended the ceremony accompanied a doctor and three nurses as he is being treated in the cardiac rehabilitation ward of Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital (HUSM) Kubang Kerian for a heart infection.
"I did not want to miss this historic day after studying for three years in the Usuludin department, even though I have been receiving treatment for the past three weeks for an infected heart valve and need to take antibiotics four hourly, in addition to needing close monitoring.
"Yesterday, I made the decision to attend the convocation, after seeking a discharge from hospital, and with a doctor and nurses to accompany me," he told reporters after the convocation ceremony.
The seventh of eight siblings expressed his joy at being able to show his success to his parents who made the trip on their own from Pasir Mas to attend the convocation ceremony.
Muhammad Arsyad, who aspires to become an educator, had to postpone admission to continue his studies at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) on Sept 29 due to his illness.
Meanwhile, Nurul Izzah Fauzi, 22, a graduate of the Al Syariah department, has been suffering from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) for the past two years, was also present at the convocation ceremony even though she was very weak and had to be assisted.
Nurul Izzah had to postpone her fourth semester studies as she was bedridden at home and lost almost 50 kilogrammes (kg) from her original weight of 85 kg.
Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud officiated the convocation ceremony in which 245 graduates received their scrolls in various disciplines including in the fields of Islamic Studies and Management. - BERNAMA