COMMENT | Farewell Surina, and thank you for your contributions

COMMENT | On Thursday morning, I was preparing to go out to attend a meeting. As usual while on the way to the meeting venue, I checked my WhatsApp messages.

I was taken aback when I saw a message from our former Multimedia Development Corporation (MDEC) group sharing the sad news regarding Surina Shukri’s passing.

I could not believe the news at first, because Surina was still young and the several occasions that I had the pleasure of meeting her, Surina looked strong and healthy even though many of us were aware she was suffering from cancer.

I could not control my tears which were rolling down my cheeks as I started to remember the times Surina had shared with us at various events regarding her journey.

As the driver passed through several lanes to reach my meeting venue, I had to try my best to gently wipe away my tears without him noticing.

Surina was well known for her passion and commitment to helping and supporting women and hence has been invited to many events to share her experiences, challenges and opportunities as a woman navigating through male-dominated tech space and technology-based careers.

Exciting future

During one such event, Surina shared how she had decided to venture overseas to work, looking forward to new opportunities.

Surina informed that initially her family was quite worried but she was really keen to venture into an exciting future ahead. After getting her family’s support, Surina shared she picked up her pet cat and off they went to new frontiers or new adventures.

While overseas following her hard work and determination, Surina had carved out a successful career and became a successful entrepreneur.

On another occasion, Surina shared with us that while she was overseas and Malaysia had a political tsunami with a new party in government, she received a call from a top leader inviting her back to Malaysia to helm MDEC.

Without hesitation, Surina placed national interest as a top priority and packed her bags to return home, answering the government’s call to helm and steer our nation’s information and communication technology, as well as multimedia policy and business.

When we heard this, we were all in awe of this young dynamic and enterprising young woman who was willing to sacrifice her own personal interest to venture overseas to return home and help our nation and the new government.

MDEC had organised My DroneX Workshop in Cyberjaya and Surina had during this workshop shared that MDEC is part of the Committee for Drones under the World Economic Forum.

After this workshop, I emailed Surina several recommendations for MDEC and was honoured to receive a very warm response from Surina as below:

“Many thanks for reaching out Sheriffah. Thank you for sharing this thought piece. They say great minds think alike, you’ll be happy to know that we’ve already put some thought into some of the themes you’ve highlighted.

“It would be great to discuss further. Let me know what your schedule is like in the next few weeks for a meeting.”

That was on Dec 31, 2019. As we were both busy we did not manage to follow up on this communication. A few months thereafter Covid-19 pandemic had caused global chaos and many programmes and plans were affected.

Moving on

When I was preparing to write to Surina to catch up and get a date for a meeting to discuss my recommendations for MDEC, I saw she was no longer with MDEC but had ventured to new organisations.

Thereafter I was happy to observe from media reports that Surina was greatly appreciated and offered several important posts. Many of us felt she deserved the best for all the sacrifices she was willing to make to return to help our nation.

Hence the very sad news that I received on Thursday, all the happy memories we had speaking to and hearing from Surina came flooding back.

This was also followed by lots of tears hearing about a young caring and abled professional passing at such a young age leaving family, husband, children, parents, parents-in-law, brothers and sisters as well as beloved pet cats.

Farewell Surina and thank you for all your great contributions to Malaysia!

Al-Fatihah. May the Almighty give strength to Surina’s family and cats during this period of sadness.

Recommendations to govt

Given Surina’s contribution to Malaysia, MDEC, as well as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem), and in addition to her passion and commitment to helping and supporting women, I would like to recommend to the government, with the support and agreement of Surina’s family, to develop a programme outlining Surina’s journey as student in Stem, entrepreneur overseas, her return to Malaysia to support national agenda.

This can be done in several different formats including but not limited to video, TV programmes and news articles to highlight Surina’s immense contribution to the nation as well as launch this as part of Malaysia’s Stem programme to discuss and disseminate information of or on the role models in Stem for both men and women to encourage more Malaysians to be aware of opportunities in Stem.

I would like to seek the support of MDEC, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Fahmi Fadzil, communications minister, Gobind Singh Deo, digital minister, Chan Lih Kang, minister of science, technology and innovation, Nancy Shukri, minister of women, family and community development and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to support this recommendation as a tribute to Surina and as a key platform to showcase Stem role models for Malaysia.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

M'sia aims to develop national policy on AI, says minister

Seven tech giants offer free video-conferencing tools - MDEC

MDEC announces SAG to support SMEs making digital leap

'Not a yes man' Rais Hussin quits as MDEC chair