Then, he would have to save up just to enjoy a plate of nasi lemak.

“When I was schooling, I rarely got to eat at the school canteen because we had just enough money for a bit of kuih and the bus fare,” he told FMT.

“If I wanted nasi lemak or curry mee, I had to save for a couple of days.”

Ezairol’s father was a former soldier who would earn a living by planting vegetables and selling pisang goreng, while his mother would sew clothes to make ends meet.

The eldest of six siblings, Ezairol was determined to do well in school and accomplish his dream of becoming a pilot with the hope of bringing his family out of poverty.

“If we are poor and have nothing, people will not even look our way, let alone respect us. In fact there are those who would mock you for being in the bottom 40 (B40),” he said.

He remembers how his mother took out all her savings to send him to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kuala Lumpur (UTMKL) after he was offered a chance to study electrical and electronics engineering.

His mother only had one dream – to prove her son could succeed like everyone else.

After graduating with a diploma, Ezairol joined the police force as an inspector. Still, he never abandoned his dream of becoming a pilot, and later, succeeded in his bid to join the police Air Wing Unit.

“In the force, I piloted several aircraft, including the Pilatus Porter PC6 B2H4, the Cessna Caravan 208, the Cessna 172 and the Beechcraft King Air B300,” he said.

Three years ago, at the age of 40, Ezairol made a decision to leave the force and join the private sector with Raya Airways.

Reflecting on his experience, the father of three said there is no easy way out of poverty.

“There is no shortcut or formula for people from poor families. If you are studying, then study hard. If you are working or doing business, do it properly.

“Rise. You are capable of much more than you think. You are the only one who can help yourself and determine how far you can go,” he said.