A TOTAL of 100 students from 23 secondary schools in Seberang Perai received ‘Top Scorer SPM 2023’ awards during an appreciation ceremony held by the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) at C-Mart in Nibong Tebal today.
According to Senator Dr A. Lingeshwaran, the PHEB deputy chairman who oversees the PHEB education bureau, this is the first time that the PHEB has initiated this appreciation ceremony.
He announced that another 59 students with excellent results from the island will receive their awards at Komtar on July 13.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who presented the mock cheque for RM500 to each recipient, congratulated them for scoring a minimum of 7As, and commended their parents, guardians, schools, and the society at large for playing important roles in their success.
He also presented a gold medal and a laptop to Sharvin Mogan, 18, from Bukit Mertajam High School for top-scoring with 9A+.
During his speech, Chow said: “The Penang government always prioritises education. This is because this administration believes that knowledge can shape strong character and open-minded thinking can create a quality society.
“While education is under the purview of the Federal government, the state government continuously strives to channel all forms of assistance, whether support or financial, to ensure that no child in Penang is left out or marginalised from obtaining one of the basic human rights, which is the right to education.
“This administration never discriminates against any race or religion in ensuring that socioeconomic development within this state continues to be achieved. Indeed, the state government welcomes initiatives from the PHEB committee, which has been very concerned with organizing various beneficial programs and events for the Hindu community in Penang since its establishment in 2008.
“To ensure that all Penang children have access to higher education after completing the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), the state government, through the PHEB, has provided educational assistance to students from less fortunate families.
“For this year alone, HEB has allocated RM52,700 to 56 Penang children who have successfully continued their studies at higher education institutions (IPTs).”
Lingeshwaran expressed his gratitude to former chief minister Lim Guan Eng for donating RM1.5 million and Chow for donating RM2 million to the PHEB.
RSN Rayer, the PHEB chairman and also Jelutong MP, highlighted that the presence of Chow, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, state executive councillors Lim Siew Khim, H’ng Mooi Lye and Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu, Bagan Dalam assemblyman K. Kumaran, state MIC chairman Datuk J. Dhinagaran, and other board members showed the importance of the event.
“The presence of the Chief Minister and Deputy Finance Minister shows that the Unity government is concerned about the welfare of the Indians, particularly education.
“Your presence here today gives us a lot of motivation to organise such beneficial programmes and we hope you will continue to support us,” Rayer said.
Lim also congratulated the high achievers, expressing hope that the token sum would incentivize them to strive for success.
“You are the future of Malaysia and go all the way up,” she urged the students.
Sharvin, the gold medal winner, expressed his desire to be a medical doctor.
He said he was inspired by a senior student who achieved 11As, which motivated him to work hard on his studies over the past two years.
“I have already obtained a place to study at Universiti Pertanian Malaysia,” Sharvin said. Sharing his joy today were his parents, Mogan Archinan, 54, and Dr Hema Praba Retenam, 47.
Sharvin’s school, Bukit Mertajam High School, dominated the appreciation ceremony, with 40 of its students among the 100 recipients.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Muhammad Amir Irsyad
Video by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis