KUALA LUMPUR: A visually-impaired student of St John’s Institution Kuala Lumpur, Muhammad Amir Faris Mohd Firdaus, 21, has been recognised as the best student in the blind category after he managed to achieve a 3.9 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in the 2022 Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination.
The fourth of five siblings, who went blind at the age of six due to a tumour on his nose, said he refused to give up despite facing various challenges throughout his studies, including difficulty in getting around or accessing information.
“…it is not easy to be blind. It is also difficult to get information, especially information with pictures. I had to ask other people like friends and teachers to repeat information to me.
“As a blind student, I have to have the courage to move forward and explore everything,” he said, adding that his dorm mates were always helpful to make sure he could attend school.
Muhammad Amir Faris was among the 17 students who were awarded the STPM 2022 Best Student Award for candidates with special educational needs by the Malaysian Examination Council (MPM) in Bandar Baru Selayang yesterday, presented by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
A student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Kota Klias, Beaufort, Sabah, Nur Atikah Zailan, 21, who received the Outstanding Achievement Award in the B40 category, said she dedicated her success to her father who works as a general assistant at the Sabah Rubber Industry Board and her late mother.
She scored a perfect 4.0 CGPA with five A’s and is determined to change her family’s circumstances for the better in the future.
“My father and my late mother inspired me to study hard because they told me that only education can change our lives,” she said.
All recipients received RM1,000 cash, a plaque and a certificate in each category namely best overall performance, B40, Orang Asli, blind, myopic, autistic and spastic. — BERNAMA
