KUCHING: An 11-year-old boy from Terengganu, Megat Muhammad Qalif Megat Shazrin, shed tears of joy after winning a total prize money of RM23,000 in the Bintang Kecil 2025 finale, beating 10 other contestants on Saturday.
He captured hearts across the nation in the prestigious children’s singing competition, not only as the winner but also when he won the best performance title in the competition.
But the soft-spoken Megat Muhammad Qalif, who was convinced all the contestants were equally talented, never expected that he would win.
“I didn’t think I would win because everyone else was so good. I am really thankful and happy,” he said, holding back tears.
In the finale he belted out ‘Kau Pun Sama’ by Syamel, and brought home a cash prize of RM20,000, along with gold worth RM6,000, a trophy, certificate, and other accompanying prizes.
He also won ‘Best Performance’, receiving an additional RM3,000 in cash and gold worth RM1,000.
“Thank you also to Terengganu FM and to Cikgu Yiti who supported me all the way to this level, and thank you to my family, especially to my mother, and my siblings, and not forgetting my performance coaches who gave me so much knowledge to reach this championship level. Thank you, everyone,” he said.
The runner-up title went to Claudy Qaila Sakhi from Indonesia, who took home RM15,000 in cash, gold worth RM5,000, a certificate, trophy, and other prizes.
Third place went to Mayrisha Naaila Dyana Reyza Nyambong from Melaka, who received RM10,000 in cash, gold worth RM4,000, a certificate, trophy, and accompanying prizes.
Consolation prizes were also given to the other eight contestants, who received RM5,000 each, along with gold worth RM700.
The prizes were presented by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts’ Permanent Secretary, Datuk Sherrina Hussaini, accompanied by Director-General of Broadcasting, Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman, at the P. Ramlee Auditorium, RTM Sarawak here.
Apart from Megat Muhammad Qalif, Claudy and Mayrisha Naaila, the other eight contestants were Kelvin Epoy (Sarawak); Aleysha Shareef Van Der Horst (Sarawak); Cinta Suci Indah Urmila Abdullah (Johor); Puteri Azalia Mohd Taufik (Kedah); Melissa Rose Afzan Saffuan (Penang); Tai Eimran Azlan (Selangor); and Ahmad Dasuki Qusyairie Roslani (Brunei Darussalam) .
The event was hosted by popular personalities, Bell Ngasri, Arm Amran and Sharifah Nurhafifa, who herself was a finalist in Bintang Kecil 2010.
The show also featured guest performances by Hael Husaini, Roxy Ixzy, Hairee Francis, Faris Malek, Nurhijrah Yahya and Des Marcus.
