Alam Haikal breaks through autism barrier to ace STPM
The 20-year-old student from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Machang has done what many thought impossible. He not only aced his Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination but also emerged as the school's top scorer with a perfect cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.0.
Opting for business studies, Alam Haikal never saw autism as a hindrance and turned the challenge into fuel that powered his extraordinary focus in academics.
'I've never felt ashamed or less than others. I believe every weakness comes with its own strengths. What I achieved today is nothing but a blessing from Allah.'
'I'm not ashamed of being an autistic child because my mother is the inspiration of my life, and my teachers have been the guiding lights on my path,' he told reporters at SMK Machang today.
According to Alam Haikal, who aspires to be an educator, his success was not solely the result of hard work, but also stemmed from spiritual discipline and exceptional perseverance.
The third of six siblings, he dedicated six hours a day to revision, including a special study session from 3 am to 6 am while the world was still asleep.
'For every subject, I used different learning techniques. I know I'm not the same as others, so I created my own learning style according to my capabilities.
'I had initially targeted a CGPA of just 3.5. I never expected to get all As and be the top student at the school,' said Alam Haikal, who had previously achieved 5As in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
Behind Alam Haikal's success stands a strong mother, Norlaila Ismail, 53, a resilient woman who has raised three children with disabilities alongside her ex-serviceman husband, never once giving up.
'Alam is the first in our family to achieve this level of academic success. I'm very grateful and pray that he continues to succeed,' she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Machang's first Form Six college set to open in 2026
KOTA BARU: The first Form Six College in Machang is expected to be completed and begin operations next year, offering students a more conducive learning environment, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. Fadhlina, who visited the construction site during her three-day working trip to Kelantan, said the project is progressing as scheduled and is on track for completion by 2026. "God willing, the college will be ready next year, allowing students to study in a more comfortable and focused setting," she told reporters after presenting Early Schooling Aid (BAP) to Semester 1 Form Six students for the 2025 academic session yesterday. Fadhlina noted that Kelantan's Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) results have remained excellent and consistent, underscoring the need for continued support for both infrastructure and academic quality. "Infrastructure alone isn't enough. The quality of teachers and students must also remain a key focus," she added. The minister said she also held engagement sessions with Form Six teachers and students to ensure they continue receiving high-quality education. – BERNAMA
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
First Form Six College in Machang to open in 2026
KOTA BHARU: The first Form Six College in Machang is expected to be completed and begin operations next year, offering students a more conducive learning environment, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. Fadhlina, who visited the construction site during her three-day working trip to Kelantan, said the project is progressing as scheduled and is on track for completion by 2026. 'God willing, the college will be ready next year, allowing students to study in a more comfortable and focused setting,' she told reporters after presenting Early Schooling Aid (BAP) to Semester 1 Form Six students for the 2025 academic session today. Fadhlina noted that Kelantan's Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) results have remained excellent and consistent, underscoring the need for continued support for both infrastructure and academic quality. 'Infrastructure alone isn't enough. The quality of teachers and students must also remain a key focus,' she added. The minister said she also held engagement sessions with Form Six teachers and students to ensure they continue receiving high-quality education. - Bernama
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
JKR completes SMK Sri Sadong project at a cost of RM28.73mil
SIMUNJAN: The construction project to replace the educational facilities of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Sri Sadong here, worth RM28.73mil, was completed this year under the supervision of the Special Project Team 2 (PPK2) of the Public Works Department (JKR). Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the project, which began on March 17, 2022, is one of the Government's initiatives to strengthen the nation's learning ecosystem, especially in rural areas. "This project was implemented through a conventional consultancy method by contractor Welfield Services Sdn Bhd and involved various construction components including an academic block comprising 12 classrooms, workshops for electrical and electronics, manufacturing, as well as computer, science, chemistry, biology and physics laboratories," he said in a statement on Sunday (Aug 3). Also built were a room for the Integrated Special Education Programme (PPKI), a canteen block, five units of F-class teachers' quarters, and various other supporting facilities to complete the school's infrastructure. Today, Nanta witnessed the official handover of the project to the Ministry of Education (MoE) at a ceremony held at the school. He said the successful implementation of this project demonstrates the government's ongoing commitment to providing modern, high-quality, and conducive educational infrastructure to support student excellence and bridge the gap in education quality between urban and rural areas. "I would like to express my appreciation to the Ministry of Education for the trust and cooperation extended to the Ministry of Works and JKR, particularly in terms of site supervision, which enabled this project to be completed successfully,' he said. He also urged JKR to continue monitoring and work closely with the contractor to resolve any complaints regarding defects during the Defects Liability Period (DLP), in accordance with the prescribed regulations. - Bernama
