A: As Abang Jimmy Abang Mordian stepped into a dormitory of the hostel at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Pusa in Betong, memories from decades ago came flooding back.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the neatly arranged beds, lockers, and newly improved facilities were a far cry from the dormitory he once stayed in as a student at Kolej Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah in Kuching. Back then, life in the hostel was far from comfortable. The mattresses were paper-thin, broken window panes allowed rain to blow into the rooms during storms, and mosquitoes were constant companions. Without washing machines, he washed his clothes by hand, like his other hostel mates.

Abang Jimmy, 50, has come a long way from those difficult days when he endured the hardships of hostel life while pursuing his education. Today, he is the managing director and chief executive officer of Malaysia LNG Group of Companies (MLNG), a Petronas subsidiary that operates one of the world's largest single-site liquefied natural gas production facilities in Bintulu, Sarawak. Decades after completing his secondary education, Abang Jimmy found himself in a position to give back and make a difference.

He was at SMK Pusa on June 23 to launch the 'Powering Knowledge: MLNG Bestari Outreach Programme', under which the MLNG group upgraded the school's four hostel dormitory blocks, providing students with a more conducive living and learning environment. The transformation included improvements to the electrical wiring system, the installation of ceiling fans and window netting, as well as the provision of washing machines and irons to support students' daily needs. Petronas also contributed 300 bed frames, 300 mattresses, and 300 lockers. The upgrading works, which began in November 2025, were completed in February this year.

For Abang Jimmy, the initiative resonated on a deeply personal level, bringing back memories of what he light-heartedly described as 'an interesting chapter' of his life. Certainly, those memories reaffirmed his belief that every student deserves an environment that allows them to focus on learning. Recalling his schooldays, Abang Jimmy said while studying at Kolej Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah, the dormitory became his second home from Form One to Form Five.

Growing up in Kampung Melayu Tebakang in Serian, about 65 kilometres from Kuching, where he received his primary education at St Teresa Serian before continuing his studies at Sekolah Kebangsaan Serian, Abang Jimmy's world revolved around school and family. But it was what he witnessed outside the classroom that left the deepest impression. He saw his family, relatives, and fellow villagers struggling to make ends meet, with many relying on what they could obtain from the river and the jungle. One image remained etched in his memory-a single chicken being shared among 10 to 15 family members, with nothing wasted.

Those experiences made him realize that education is the only path towards a better future. While in secondary school, Abang Jimmy did not imagine that one day he would study overseas or become the CEO of a company. His goal then was just to earn a place at a local university. Night after night, he studied in the hostel until two in the morning, determined to excel in his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination. An opportunity came that changed his life when he received scholarship offers from two major oil companies, including Petronas, which offered him the chance to pursue his studies in Australia.

At SMK Pusa, more students are benefiting from the improved facilities at its hostel. The number of boarding students at the school has increased from 205 in 2025 to 230 this year. Student attendance has also risen steadily from 96.67 percent in 2025 to 97.85 percent this year. For SPM 2025, 100 percent of the boarding students qualified for the SPM certificate, with one of them emerging as the school's top performer by scoring 8As.

While better hostel facilities provide students with a more comfortable place to study and rest, Abang Jimmy believes the true value of a boarding school lies in the lessons beyond academics. Living away from home teaches independence, resilience, and discipline, qualities that shape individuals long before they enter the workforce. For Petronas, supporting education is about creating opportunities for young people to pursue their potential and build their self-confidence. For Abang Jimmy, it is also personal, hoping students at SMK Pusa enjoy a safer and more comfortable place to live and learn and discover that great journeys can begin from the simplest of beginnings.