His mission? To save enough money so he, too, could further his studies.
The eldest of four siblings, Aliff grew up in a modest household in Kedah. His mother, the family’s main breadwinner, simply couldn’t afford to fund his education.
Today, at 25, Aliff’s life looks remarkably different. He is pursuing a Master in Tesol Studies at the University of Leeds in the UK under the Chevening scholarship.
This is a prestigious international scholarship programme under the UK government, granted to individuals with the potential to become exceptional future leaders.
But how did Aliff – who was once ridiculed for his poor command of English – make it this far?
“I did feel a bit sad when I had to start working right after secondary school. But I didn’t have a choice,” Aliff told FMT Lifestyle.
However, he took things in stride, working 12-hour shifts as a security guard at two hospitals – the same places where his mother served as a healthcare assistant.
The days were long, but his determination to become an educator kept him going. He hadn’t always dreamed of teaching – he once aspired to be an architect or aircraft engineer. But his English teacher, a kind woman named Puan Maznah, changed his perspective.
“Learning English was not an easy journey, and I often received negative remarks about my broken English. At home, we didn’t converse in English, and Malay was my main language,” said Aliff.
When Aliff performed poorly in his English paper during his SPM trials, Maznah stepped in to help – giving him extra lessons after school, sometimes with doughnuts in hand.
Her efforts paid off: Aliff scored an A- in English for his SPM. But more importantly, Maznah’s dedication and care left a lasting impression, inspiring his dream to become an English educator.
“She told me that I should be a better teacher than her in the future and help students with low English proficiency,” said Aliff.
He never forgot her words. Aliff went on to pursue a Diploma in TESL at Kolej Universiti Poly-Tech Mara Kuala Lumpur, before continuing his degree in English Language Studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia under the “Towards Inclusion and Equity Fund – Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation scholarship”.
The scholarship covered his studies and provided a two-year leadership programme that shaped his growth beyond the classroom.
While studying, Aliff shared that he also worked part-time as a kitchen crew member to earn extra income.
Yet, he still found time to give back to the community – spearheading “Edukasi Emosi”, a programme to teach primary school students emotional literacy.
He also started “PKBL Global Talk”, an initiative to connect Malaysian student leaders with peers around the world.
He graduated from UKM with first-class honours and set his sights on a master’s degree.
“I want to deepen my knowledge in teaching and policy because in the long run, I envision contributing to English language reform and helping Malaysia become a leading educational hub in the region” he said.
He once volunteered as a policy executive with the Higher Education Malaysia Association. Then he decided to aim high, applying for the Chevening scholarship to study in the UK.
“It would give me an opportunity to connect with leaders and changemakers. I hope to strengthen my network to help reform education policy in Malaysia.”
The day he learnt he was among 35 Malaysians selected for the 2025/2026 academic year was an unforgettable one for him.
The teenager who once struggled with English and worked as a security guard had certainly come a long way.
“Getting the Chevening scholarship is not only a recognition but also a responsibility for me to inspire others from rural or underprivileged communities to strive forward.”
He began classes last month and will return to Malaysia next year, a bright future ahead of him.
“I am a firm believer that life is the sum of the people we meet and the choices we make. I never allowed negative criticism to define me – instead, I took it as motivation to move forward.”