GEORGE TOWN, Nov 27: After more than three decades of pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor, Dr Ng Jet Kwan made history today when he received his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree at the 63rd Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Convocation here today.
At 57, Dr Ng, affectionately known as Uncle Jet, became the oldest medical graduate in Malaysia, having successfully completed his studies through the USM+1 pathway.
Uncle Jet shared that his dream of becoming a doctor began in childhood, but in the early 90s, opportunities were scarce, with only four public universities offering medical programmes in Malaysia. This made the competition intense.
Born in Batu Pahat, Johor, he was unable to secure a place in a medical programme and instead pursued engineering studies in the United Kingdom. After returning to Malaysia, he worked as an engineer in Singapore for 10 years.
“After becoming an engineer, I continued to study Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) at a university in China and was running a business with my wife Jasmine Lim, 57, before a friend shared information that USM offers an MD programme through the USM+1 pathway.
“After reviewing the requirements, I found that it aligned with my academic background, so I applied to USM to pursue medicine. I am incredibly grateful to have been accepted and to have completed my Doctor of Medicine degree,” he said, speaking after the 4th session of the convocation today.
Dr Ng, the son of a hawker couple, said that studying alongside much younger classmates was not a challenge. In fact, he described them as some of the best students in the country, who were incredibly supportive and welcoming of his presence.
He also received the same warmth and support from his lecturers and medical experts, even though he began his studies at 51 years old.
Dr Ng is now serving as a Postgraduate Medical Officer Trainee in General Surgery at the USM Specialist Hospital (HPUSM) in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.
“Though some of my lecturers were younger than me, it didn’t hinder me. Some were also of my age, and we could have casual discussions. One of the initial challenges was understanding the Kelantanese accent, but I eventually grew fond of Kelantan, especially the food,” he said, adding that he brought his wife to stay with him in Kubang Kerian throughout his studies.
Dr Ng revealed that he looks up to Confucius as a role model, particularly for his philosophy of lifelong learning and the importance of kindness to others.
When asked about his secret to success at this later stage in life, Dr Ng stressed that there were no specific tips, other than having the courage to seize opportunities as they arise and challenging himself to achieve his childhood ambition.
“After completing my housemanship, I plan to obtain the necessary licences and permits to open my own clinic. At the same time, I also plan to pursue further studies to specialise in Geriatrics,” he said.
Dr Ng, who has two daughters, said his eldest Ng Zhu Chin, 29, is now a resident doctor in the United States while Ng Zhu Han, 25, is a lawyer in Australia.
He also expressed his deep appreciation to the lecturers, especially his mentor, Prof Datuk Dr Jafri Malin Abdullah, who provided a lot of guidance and encouragement, as well as his classmates, and thanked the Ministry of Health for the policy that allowed him to pursue his childhood dream.
Meanwhile, USM vice-chancellor, Prof. Datuk Seri Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed, said that the USM+1 MD programme is a five-year course. The first two years are pre-clinical studies undertaken outside USM, while years three to five are completed full-time at the School of Medical Sciences (PPSP) at USM’s Health Campus in Kubang Kerian.
Dr Ng’s success proves that nothing is impossible, as he achieved his goal and made history as the oldest medical graduate in the country, said Dr Abdul Rahman.
— BERNAMA