KUALA NERUS—Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra School in Kota Bharu made up for the disappointing
finish last year after emerging the champion in the National Choral Speaking Competition 2019 held
at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) here today. The victory enabled the team of 25 students to
take home the UMT Vice Chancellor Trophy, RM1500 cash, plaques and certificates.
 
 
In a competition involving nine schools who were zone champions, second place was won by Seri
Puteri School Cyberjaya while Muzaffar Shah School secured third place.
Also competing were Miri Science School and MARA Junior Science Colleges in Kuantan, Baling, Pasir
Salak, Gemencheh, and Kota Putra, Terengganu.
 
 
The Best Conductor Award went to Arissa Hadirah Ahmad Zaimi from Seri Puteri School who took
home RM100 cash, a plaque, and a certificate.
 
 
Awards and prizes were presented to the winners by UMT Vice Chancellor Professor Dato’ Dr Nor
Aieni Mokhtar.
 
 
Also present were the Academic Management Sector Head of State Education Department, Azman
Othman; Senior Assistant Officer from Fully Residential and Excellent School Management Division,
Mohamad Azhar Mohamed Harith; and Principal of Kuala Terengganu MARA Junior Science College,
Ahmad Shariff.
 
 
For this year’s competition, UMT selected the theme Ocean Priorities as a way to raise the
awareness of the importance of maintaining and conserving the sustainability of the oceans and
biodiversity, which was in line with the World Ocean Day that is celebrated every 8 June.
Professor Nor Aieni in her speech said that the competition not only provided exposure to the
importance of protecting marine biodiversity but allowed the participants to improve their
command of English. In addition, it was one of the platforms for introducing UMT as a university
offering programmes in marine science.
 
 
She said that 69 fully residential schools and 54 MARA Junior Science Colleges competed during the
semi-final in April this year.
 
 
“This means that UMT has spread the awareness campaign on ocean conservation to 40,000
students at fully residential schools and 33,000 students at Mara Junior Science Colleges throughout
the country,” Professor Nor Aieni said.