KUANTAN: "My sacrifice has not been in vain." That is how Rozita Abdul Hamid, 47, summed up the success of her son, Muhammad Hamdi Ahmad Hakimi, 20, who has gained admission to Harvard College in the United States.

The self-employed mother said all her effort of focusing attention on her eldest son's academic progress had finally paid off.

"He is an intelligent son and has always taken the initiative to study ... his success really makes our entire family proud. My sacrifice in terms of time and money for him to succeed in his studies has finally paid off.

"I sent Hamdi to tuition from Standard Three till Form Three. I really emphasise on academic matters and often communicate with his subject and class teachers to update myself about the progress of his studies," she told Bernama at the Iftar and Ramadan assistance presentation ceremony at Kompleks Yayasan Pahang here today.

At the ceremony, Rozita, who lives in Kampung Tok Sira here, received on behalf of her son a RM10,000 contribution from Yayasan Pahang, which was presented by Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Hamdi expressed his thanks to Yayasan Pahang for the assistance via a video recording played at the ceremony.

"I will use the money to prepare for Harvard this August and thank you all," he said.

Besides Muhammad Hamdi, another student, Jarell Cheong Tze Wen, 20, also received the same offer and will be joining the 2025 class, each planning to take up Economics and Mathematics there.

Wan Rosdy, who is also Yayasan Pahang chairman, said in his speech that the state government was proud of the Kuantan boy's achievements that brought glory to Pahang and Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA