3 June 2009

More than four hundred entries were received from Malaysian students from over 85 schools and institutions of all part of the country, aged between 13 and 21 showed their writing talents and gave their opinions on the future of the nation and the role of leadership. A Prize-giving Ceremony was held on the 3rd of June 2009 to announce the winners. Perdana Leadership Foundation’s Honorary President, Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Binti Haji Mohd Ali were the Guests of Honour at the event.

More than 150 audience including the winners, parents and school representatives filled up the auditorium at the Foundation to witness the prize giving of the 2008 Essay Contest. Also present were the judges of the Contest, Ms. Hardev Kaur, New Straits Times columnist and Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Khoo Kay Kim of University of Malaya who had the honour to read the Judges Statement.

Chairman, Board of Trustees, Perdana Leadership Foundation, Tan Sri Dato’ Azman Hashim opened the ceremony by welcoming the audience during his speech. Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah binti Haji Mohd Ali, Chancellor of Multimedia University and also one of the guests of honour at the ceremony presented the prizes to the winners.

Khairul Fikrie bin Ahmad Zubaidi, a law student from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia won the first prize for the Tertiary category, Ms. Low Pui Yee from HELP University College was named the first prize winner for the Upper Secondary category and Ms. Joy Hii Mei Xin from SMK St. Columba, Sarawak won the first prize for the Lower Secondary level. All of them received Macbooks, saving accounts from AmBank and Bank Rakyat, MPH book vouchers and work placements at selected corporations for Upper Secondary and Tertiary level winners. MRSM Kuala Lipis was selected as the winner for institution with the most entries. However, none of them won the Grand Prize, a Chevrolet Aveo, sponsored by DRB-Hicom and the prize will be carry forward to next year’s contest.

This is the second time the Perdana Leadership Foundation held its Essay Contest. The contest debut in 2006/2007 saw the Grand Prize winner for the Tertiary level, Mohd Haizal Zainuddin, winning a PROTON Savvy. The Star and Utusan Malaysia are the official media partners for this essay contest. Prize sponsors are DRB-Hicom, AmBank Group, Bank Rakyat and MPH Bookstores.