PETALING JAYA: Being a mother of one and a hijab-wearing Muslim woman has not stopped Normalia Sidek from conquering skyscrapers in her job as a rope access technician.
Normalia, who is known as Maya on social media, caught the attention of netizens when photographer Siva Kumar uploaded a video of her climbing the Petronas Twin Towers.
The intrepid 30-year-old has since earned the nickname “Iron Lady” for her courage working in a male-dominated, high-risk profession.
Rope access technicians typically work on high-rise structures, performing a variety of tasks such as window and facade cleaning, painting, welding, pressure washing, repairing, inspecting and other maintenance activities.
In an interview with Harian Metro, Normalia said that the 20th tallest building in the world was the tallest building she had ever ‘conquered’ so far and had her eyes set on the tallest building in the world – the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates – next.
Despite the dangerous nature of her work, Normalia revealed she previously worked in a clothing boutique before becoming a rope access technician about four years ago.
“My hobby used to be rock climbing but I never thought I could climb tall buildings.
“My path was not easy because I had to get a license first and gain the confidence to climb tall buildings.
“In the beginning, there was always a sense of nervousness but over time it became normal and I put aside the fear to focus on completing the task,” she said in the interview published on Saturday (Nov 5).
According to Normalia, her family – especially her husband, Abdul Hazim Abdul Rashid, 27 – did not object and encouraged her to venture into the field.
“My husband works in the same field (where they met) so he is my number one supporter and inspires me,” said the Nilai native, adding that they have a three-month-old baby.
Normalia said she never takes safety aspects for granted and is always careful when carrying out assigned tasks.
“Before starting, I will make sure all personal protective equipment (PPE) is in good condition and one of my duties is to do maintenance.
“The feeling of anxiety is always there, especially when the wind is strong and there’s nothing to hang on to.
“That’s normal and the most satisfying part is when a project is successfully implemented,” she said.
For now, Normalia was happy with what she was doing and does not plan on stopping.
“My job seems dangerous and only the brave are willing to do it – but the pay is worth it,” she said.
Normalia added that she had no plans to change fields any time soon and plans to seize any work opportunities abroad in the field of non-destructive testing (NDT).
“If I’m lucky enough, I want to conquer the Burj Khalifa one day – that’s one of my dreams,” she said.
In a Facebook post on Sunday (Nov 6), Normalia said she was happy to see many women starting to join and take the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (Irata) license.
She also highlighted the importance of women supporting each other in their careers, saying that there is no need to compete with each other.
Normalia also thanked Malaysians for supporting her after she went viral on social media for being known as the “Iron Lady”.
“Someone found me at my office and it went viral. This is a part of my journey to be a rope access technician and NDT technician.
“Thank you for your positive vibes and support,” she wrote.
Responding to questions from netizens on how much she charges, Normalia said rates vary from RM150 up to RM1,200 per day.
“You choose which rate you want. Upgrade your skills, that’s important to be able to level up your daily rate,” she said.