PENANG is sending a total of 400 students from 20 schools (primary and secondary) to take part in the Malaysia Techlympics in Bukit Jalil this weekend.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who met many of the participants at Komtar Walk today, encouraged them to do their best.
“Are you all excited or not?” Chow asked the participants at the start of his speech.
“Yaaah!” the children responded loudly.
They first participated at the state schools’ level, then progressed to the North Zone level before advancing to the national level. The North Zone level competition was held in Alor Setar on Sept 12-13.
Chow continued: “I wish you all success in the tournament. Winning is important but more important is having a fighting spirit.
“So, perform to your best ability. And I wish you all a safe journey to and fro,” Chow said in a brief speech.
He added that the Penang government, through the Penang Science Cluster, has organised a variety of programmes to encourage the students to take up STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
He said this is to help nurture talent for Penang, which is attracting more industries to set up operations in the state.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, Tech Dome Penang chief executive officer Khoo Boo Wooi and marketing manager Oun Sui Leng.
“The state government has always placed great importance on science and technology. Because of that, CM Chow quickly approved some sponsorship when Tech Dome approached him for the students to compete in Bukit Jalil,” said Dr Ramasamy, who is also the Penang Science Cluster chairman.
Khoo also thanked Chow and the state government for helping to provide transport to the Penang team.
“Because the organizers do not provide transportation from Penang to Kuala Lumpur, schools from Penang contacted Tech Dome Penang for help.
“Some schools had thought of dropping out of the competition. It would have been very sad for the students who have trained hard for the competition.
“But with the generosity of the chief minister, Penang has prepared 10 buses for the participants to KL,” Khoo said.
This is the first time the Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (Mosti) is organising the Malaysia Techlympics.
The 20 schools representing Penang are SMK Datuk Haji Ahmad Badawi, SJKC Keng Koon, SK Batu Kawan, SMK Methodist Nibong Tebal, SMJK Chung Ling Butterworth, SK St Mark (M) Butterworth, SMK Seberang Jaya, SMS Tun Syed Sheh Shahabudin, SMK Permai Indah, SJKC Jit Sin B, SJKC Han Chiang, SMJK Convent Datuk Keramat, SMJK Heng Ee, SMJK Sacred Heart, SK Sungai Nibong, SK Seri Penanti, SK Sungai Dua, SJKC Li Tek Cawangan, SMK Convent Green Lane and SMKA (L) Al-Mashoor.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Siew Chia En