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A FORMER student of Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) Kuantan has set a remarkable precedent by gaining admission to study medicine at Kursk State Medical University in Russia at the tender age of 17.
Iskandar Warid Mohd Nazrul Izad, the fourth child of businessman Datuk Seri Mohd Nazrul Izad Mohd Arsad, secured his place at the prestigious Russian university using his trial International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE UK) results from last year.
Speaking to reporters, his father expressed immense pride at his son’s extraordinary achievement.
“While his peers were busy preparing for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, he had already begun his studies at an overseas university,” he said.
Iskandar is scheduled to depart on Wednesday and will return in December to sit for his SPM exams. His father revealed that his academic potential had been apparent since primary school, earning him numerous awards for excellence during his time at MRSM.
“Who would have thought that a boy from Beserah could travel so far to pursue his dream of becoming both a doctor and, perhaps one day, a politician,” he said.
“He will undertake a seven-year programme to qualify as a doctor, after which he may choose to complete his clinical training either abroad or in Malaysia.”
Iskandar Warid has pledged to make the most of this unique opportunity at one of Russia’s leading public medical universities. “God willing, I will study diligently to achieve my dream of becoming a cancer specialist one day,” he said.
His motivation is deeply personal. “I was profoundly affected by the passing of my beloved grandfather due to lung cancer. That inspired me to specialise in cancer treatment,” he explained.
The ambitious teenager also hopes to conduct research to develop more effective and affordable cancer therapies, demonstrating both dedication to his studies and a desire to contribute meaningfully to medical science in the future. - February 24, 2026