Desire to uplift family drives Orang Asli student to STPM excellence
Roziana, a student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tanjung Gemok, Kuala Rompin, Pahang, said it was sheer hard work and discipline that led to her being named the 2024 STPM Best Student in the Orang Asli category by the Malaysian Examinations Council (MEC).
'My inspiration is to improve my family's social standing, and then elevate my social status... so that I can stand tall as a great Orang Asli,' she said.
She said this after the 2024 STPM, Malaysian University English Test and Malay Language Proficiency Certificate for Foreign Nationals Outstanding Student Award Ceremony here today.
The awards were presented by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
Roziana, who obtained 4As with a perfect cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.0, said her life, which is full of hardship - such as the lack of electricity and internet in her village and a daily school commute of nearly one hour - only strengthened her resolve to the point of being willing to stay in the school hostel for a year and a half to focus on the STPM preparation.
Asked about her plans, Roziana said she had put Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) as her top pick to further her education in economics, which is her field of interest.
'I am keen on economics, so I plan to study in that field... UKM is my preferred choice because it is one of the best varsities in Malaysia,' she said.
Meanwhile, for Nik Muhamad Ahnaf Rujhiee Raja Anuar, the 2024 STPM Best Student in the Special Needs (blind) category, revision and practice were the keys to his success, in addition to often asking teachers if there were things he did not understand.
'I always asked my teachers if I didn't understand anything. Over time, I managed to have a better grasp of the subjects and, alhamdulillah, it paid off today,' said Nik Muhamad Ahnaf, who obtained 4As with a CGPA of 4.0.
Another top STPM student, Ahmad Hanif Roslan attributed his keen interest in history for propelling him to excel in the subject and be named the Best Student in the 2024 STPM History Subject.
'For me, history is an interesting subject. I never get bored reading about history, although others may feel otherwise. But I know that we can learn a lot from history,' he said.
Earlier, MEC chairman Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff announced the 2024 STPM results, which recorded a national CGPA of 2.85, the highest ever recorded since the examination's inception.
He added that a total of 1,266 candidates, or 3.06 per cent, achieved a CGPA of 4.00, an increase of 150 candidates compared to 2023.
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4 days ago
- The Star
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STPM top scorer from Jakun tribe set to pursue dreams at University of Manchester
KUANTAN: Driven by determination and hope, a young Orang Asli woman from the Jakun tribe has earned a place to study economics at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, marking a significant step forward in her mission to drive change in her community. Roziana Tan Beng Hai, 20, who scored a perfect 4.0 CGPA in the 2024 Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination, said she chose to pursue economics and social studies with the ambition of becoming an economist. "I am the first person from Kampung Mentelung, Rompin, to sit for STPM. Not many people in my village have had the chance to study this far, and most of them are from the B40 group. "It's my hope to raise the living standard and create job opportunities for my community,' she told reporters at the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and STPM Outstanding Student Awards Ceremony organised by the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) at a hotel here on Tuesday. Roziana described the opportunity to study abroad as her way of repaying her mother, Rohani Lamwan, 56, who had raised her alone while working at an oil palm estate under YP Plantation Holdings Sdn Bhd. "I want to give my mother something to be proud of, so she'll know that raising me on her own wasn't in vain,' said Roziana, who is currently preparing to sit for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) on July 19. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Siti Nur Hawani Muhammad Almi, who scored 9As in the SPM examination, said she would pursue Islamic Education at the Teacher Training Institute, Dato' Razali Ismail Campus, Kuala Terengganu, starting Aug 11. The former Sekolah Menengah Agama Al-Hasanah student said furthering studies in Islamic Education was her first choice as she aspired to become an Ustazah (religious teacher). "I was truly inspired by my teachers at school and found that teaching is something I actually enjoy. "I used to help my friends study during SPM, and that's where my passion grew,' she said. At the same time, Siti Nur Hawani encouraged SPM candidates to step out of their comfort zones to achieve extraordinary results. "I never used to get 8As or 9As. Usually, I scored 5As or 6As. I wasn't very focused at first, but as SPM got closer, I realised I needed to change. I pushed myself to work harder, and in the end, I achieved 9As. Alhamdulillah,' she said. Roziana and Siti Nur Hawani were among 149 Orang Asli students recognised for their academic achievements at the ceremony. Jakoa deputy director-general (Development) Zamri Mustajap said a total of RM45,550 in incentives was allocated to all recipients.- Bernama
