In the quiet fishing town of Kuala Kedah, life was never easy for young Moventhiran.

His father worked long hours as a lorry driver, while his mother juggled two demanding jobs, working as a domestic helper and a hospital cleaner just to keep the family afloat. There were days when money was so tight that even basic necessities became a challenge.

“Growing up in Kuala Kedah with very limited financial resources was not easy,” Dr Moventhiran recalls.

“There were times when we could barely afford school expenses. Some days, I only had one meal. But even then, I knew education was my only way out.”

During his early school years, hardship became a constant companion. School fees sometimes had to be delayed, and the home environment was not always ideal for studying.

But instead of surrendering to his circumstances, Moventhiran found another way.

“I remember studying under streetlights at night. Those moments were difficult, but they also reminded me that I didn’t want to remain in poverty forever,” he says. 

Those long nights under dim streetlamps slowly shaped the determination of a boy who refused to give up on his dreams.

Moventhiran’s understanding of hardship did not come only from school life. From a very young age, he worked during school holidays to help support himself and his family.

When he was just 13 years old, he worked as a labourer in a rice factory. Two years later, he found himself carrying heavy loads of scrap metal in a factory, earning only RM2.50 an hour.

“When I worked at the scrap metal factory, I realised how difficult life could be without education,” he says.

“I told myself that if I didn’t study hard, I might spend the rest of my life doing the same kind of labour.”

He also worked in restaurants and fast-food outlets, experiences that exposed him to different sides of society.

“Working in restaurants taught me humility. I saw how some people treated workers badly, and I promised myself that I would always respect people regardless of their job.”

Those early work experiences planted an important belief in him, that every job deserves dignity, and every person deserves respect.

Despite the hardships, Moventhiran remained deeply focused on his studies. Through discipline, repetition and long hours of self-study, he pushed himself academically. He developed a habit of constantly revising lessons and practising questions until he fully understood the material.

“All my studying was mostly self-study,” he explains.

“I believed that the more times I revised something, the stronger my understanding would become.”

His efforts paid off. Moventhiran scored 9As in his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations and later achieved a perfect CGPA of 4.0 during his matriculation studies at Kolej Matrikulasi Pulau Pinang.

Yet the journey was not without its struggles. English, for instance, was one of his biggest challenges.

“In fact, English was harder for me than subjects like Physics or Additional Mathematics,” he admits.

“I improved slowly by reading newspapers and practising. I also had teachers who patiently guided me.” 

Some experiences were painful. There were times he was mocked for his poor English, and moments when he felt out of place among students from more privileged backgrounds.

But instead of discouraging him, those moments strengthened his resolve.

“Those experiences motivated me to work harder and prove that my background would not define my future.”

Along the way, several teachers played a pivotal role in nurturing his potential. At SMK Dato’ Syed Omar, teachers not only supported him academically but also helped him in practical ways.

“Some teachers even gave me books and stationery when I needed them,” he remembers.

“They believed in me even when I sometimes doubted myself.”

One teacher in particular left a lasting impact.

“My history teacher, the late Cikgu Rama, always told me that one day I would become someone in life.”

Years later, fate came full circle. “When he was ill, I had the opportunity to care for him as one of his doctors. It was a moment that reminded me how deeply teachers shape our lives.”

A turning point that changed everything, where in 2006, Moventhiran’s life took a decisive turn. Financial support from generous individuals allowed him to continue his journey into medical school.

“One person I will never forget is Mr Ooli Gunalan,” he says.

“He helped raise funds for me on the very day I received the opportunity to enter medical school. That act of kindness changed my life.”

Moventhiran later pursued his medical degree at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, before completing his master’s degree in neurosurgery at Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Interestingly, becoming a neurosurgeon was never part of his childhood dream.

“When I was younger, I actually wanted to become a teacher,” he says.

But during his early years working as a medical officer, he discovered neurosurgery, a field that fascinated him with its complexity and life-saving potential.

“I realised it was one of the most demanding fields in medicine, but also one of the most meaningful.”

Through years of rigorous training, perseverance and dedication, he eventually became a board-certified neurosurgeon.

Today, Dr Moventhiran serves as the head of the neurosurgery unit at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah in Klang. He leads a team of 25 medical professionals, managing a wide range of complex neurological, brain and spinal cases.

Yet despite his achievements, he remains grounded. “I still see myself as a small government hospital doctor,” he says humbly.

For him, leadership is not about status.

“Leadership is about responsibility, supporting younger doctors, building strong teams, and ensuring patients receive the best possible care.”

His mission is clear: to strengthen the neurosurgery unit at HTAR as a reliable trauma centre that serves the community.

Neurosurgery is a demanding field, filled with long hours and high-pressure decisions. But what keeps Dr Moventhiran going is simple.

“Never give up, because every single life deserves a chance to be saved.”

Each patient, he reminds himself, is someone’s loved one.

“When I remember that, it keeps me grounded.”

When we asked him on one message that he will be giving to the younger generation…

For students from underprivileged backgrounds, Dr Moventhiran has a message that comes from personal experience.

“Always dare to dream, and work hard for those dreams,” he says.

“Your circumstances today do not determine your future.”

He believes that difficult beginnings can become powerful motivation.

“Never blame your background. Instead, use it as fuel to push yourself forward.”

And above all, he reminds young people to remain humble.

“No matter how far you go in life, never forget your roots and the people who helped you along the way.”

Thank you Dr, for inspiring us and also your journey indeed a fuel to those youngsters who are working on their passion. 

This is an exclusive story by Astro Ulagam. Any reproduction or adaptation requires prior consent from the interviewee to ensure accuracy. If referencing this article, please provide proper credit to Astro Ulagam along with a backlink in recognition of our editorial efforts.