Good nationwide response to M'sia Day contest
Published on: Thursday, September 08, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Some 8,283 artworks have been received from schools nationwide in the second Art of Nation Building (TANB) competition that aims to promote the historical fact that Malaysia was born on Sept. 16, 1963. The works were submitted by students from 147 schools by August 30, mostly from Sabah. Jointly organised by the State Education Department, Society Empowerment & Economic Development Sabah (SEEDS), the Federation of Sabah Chinese Women Association (FSCWA) and the Junior Chamber International Kota Kinabalu, the Sabah-initiated competition exceeded its initial target of 8,000 submissions this year. Last year, organisers received 5,189 entries.
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Co-organising chairperson Dr Pamela Yong said many of the students creatively expressed their understanding about national unity and pride through their work.Students were also required to give a synopsis of their work that constitutes a portion of the assessment marks. "We should not be afraid to both admit and submit to history. Facts are facts," she said, referring to the polemics surrounding the year of the formation of Malaysia or "Hari Malaysia." She acknowledged that this has caused a lot of confusion among the people, including students.
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She insisted that unless people and the system accept the fact that Malaysia was formed on 16 Sept. 1963, there will always be destructive divisions."The sooner we can all reconcile the fact that Malaysia's birthday fell on 16 September 1963, the more united Malaysians will be. Without such dispute, there can only result in agreement, peace, harmony and unity.
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This is exactly what we want our young people to know through this competition," she told a press conference.Also present were the State Education Department Head of the Academic Sector Abidin Marjan and the department's Assistant Director of the Management Sector Tham Yun Fook as well JCI KK president Ng Tze Ek. Dr Yong, who is SEEDS treasurer, said of the 147 schools that sent their entries, 112 were from Sabah and 18 from Johor. Schools from other States that also participated were from Perak, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan. A team of judges have begun to look every single submission and top winners would be picked based on creativity and factual accuracy of presentation.The competition is divided in three main categories. A cash prize of RM1,000 awaits winners for the Higher Secondary School category while the runners-up and third place winners will receive RM700 and RM500 respectively.Next top 10 participants will be eligible for consolation prizes of RM150 each.The Lower Secondary School category champions will take home RM800 cash prize while runners-up and third place winners will get RM500 and RM300 each respectively. Top ten participants in the category will get a consolation prize of RM100 each.Participating schools with the highest number of artwork submissions would also receive trophies, certificates and prizes. Dr Yong said judges would shortlist over 480 artworks which would be exhibited at Suria Sabah, Centre Point, City Mall, KKIA and Gaya Street (Jesselton Hotel) for public viewing.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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