KOTA SAMARAHAN: Identical twins Maximilian Majoi Marcus Linggie and Maximiller Jawa Marcus Linggie, both 23, were among the graduates who took the stage during the sixth session of the 29th Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Convocation Ceremony held at DeTAR Putra today.
The brothers share more than just a resemblance. They also shared the same classroom, internship and now, their proud graduation moment together.
Both earned a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in Development Planning and Management, a programme that nurtured their passion for community development and sustainable planning.
“Our parents encouraged us to study together because we’re from different divisions, so staying together made things easier,” said Maximilian, adding that they shared a car and accommodation throughout their studies to cut costs.
The duo also completed their industrial training at the same organisation, describing the experience as seamless teamwork.
“It helped that we understand each other well. Even when faced with challenges, we managed to divide our responsibilities and support each other,” said Maximillian.
Their identical looks often led to amusing moments of confusion among lecturers and classmates.
“Some can only tell us apart by our hairstyles. Even our supervisors sometimes get mixed up,” Maximilian said.
Despite studying side by side, the twins said healthy competition kept them motivated.
“Our CGPAs were quite close — mine is 3.47, and my brother’s is 3.52. We’ve always been on the same wavelength academically,” Maximiller said.
Originally from Sri Aman, the brothers plan to take a short break before seeking employment early next year.
“We’ll look for opportunities that align with what we’ve learned. Hopefully, we can continue working together,” said Maximilian.
They also shared that being twins often means sharing more than experiences.
“When one of us falls sick, the other usually follows. It’s been that way since we were small,” Maximilian added.
While both enjoy learning and exploring ideas together, their hobbies differ slightly — Maximilian has a passion for art and drawing, while Maximiller enjoys playing video games.
As a message to other twins and students, the pair advised them to remain practical and considerate.
“Don’t burden your parents. If possible, study at the same place as it helps save costs and makes the journey easier,” they said.
