When I first decided to become a Land Surveyor, among all the mental strength I needed to have to work in the field, work alongside mostly males, giving instructions to male juniors, the most challenging was being told that I should not be in this career because of my gender.
I remember vividly, studying in my Department of Surveying Science faculty library one afternoon, I was confronted by a Malay Senior who was doing his final year, he asked why did I choose this career, did I know that the National Mapping Agency would not be taking in female candidate for the job of District Surveyor, that a female would best be a cartographer but it is not a surveyor role. This Malay senior was Annuar, he became a good friend after that conversation. I remember feeling a bit shaken to know the future awaiting me back home would be so bleak. But I told him I would be willing to work alongside male surveyors and going to the jungle. He laughed very hard and said the jungle of Malaysia be so tough and still have tigers living there !
Upon graduation, I returned to Sabah on 17 August 1989, after informing the scholarship department that I have completed my degree and I waited for the call to be interviewed. I got my interview in October and reported duty on 30 Oct 1989. In my first few visits to the districts, most male supervisors were in shock to receive me as a lady District Surveyor. A handful of them picked up the guts to tell me that I was in the wrong career, that my dad should not have allowed me to study and pursue this line of work.
I have worked 30 years in the Lands and Surveys Department Sabah covering 3 jobs ! It was the best time of my life ! No regret !
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