Malay language competition: China student won the PM’s Cup

Xu Yang from China won as champion for the Prime Minister’s Cup Malay Language International Speech Competition 2018 for the international student category at the Sultan Zainal Abidin University (UniSZA).

Xu Yang with two other champion

She beats two other students in the finals on Saturday night.

Xu Yang is a student from Guangdong Study of Foreign Languages University taking a course in the Malay language.

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) student Muhammad Syahmi Akif Jamili (Malaysia) emerge triumphant in the Malay World category consist five ASEAN nations which are Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik attended the 12th edition of the competition and he is the one who gave away the prizes.

31 countries took part in the competition themed “The Internationalisation of the Malay Language” with total contestant of 50 people. Only nine made it to the finals.

Aurore Jeannot of France (Halu Oleo University, Indonesia) came in second in the international category, followed by Leon Woltermann of Germany (Hamburg University, Germany).

In the Malay World category, Huda Ahmad of Thailand (Sheikh Daud Al-Fatani Yala Islamic University, South Thailand) was second while Malaysia’s Adam Muhammad Taufiq Mohamad Suharto (Universiti Teknologi Mara) was third.

Sajarah Mohd Ali of Cambodia (UniSZA) was crowned champion in the International Student in Malaysia category. Second was Nafisa Mayukh of Bangladesh (IIUM) followed by Mahad Mohamed of the United Kingdom (University Malaysia Perlis).

The champion of each category trophy received a challenge trophy and RM10,000 cash and a certificate.

Second place took home an accompanying trophy and RM8,000 each, while the third place winners each received an accompanying trophy and RM5,000.

Those who took part in the competition described as mini ambassadors who could empower the language in their own countries.

Earlier, Maszlee said that the creation of the Standard Malay Language Framework (KBSM) developed by national language experts would be a big boost to the speakers of the Malay language aspirations.

He ensures that the Education Ministry will be a key player in the creation of the framework with help of experts and related agencies.

“It is crucial to ensure the Malay language is of scientific nature and consistent as well as become the main reference for the world and one day be one of the official languages at the United Nations,” he add.

Not only Maszlee, Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching, Education Ministry secretary-general Dr Mohd Gazali Abas and about 2,000 students present at the competition, which was being held for the first time at the institution of higher learning and outside the Klang Valley.