KUCHING: SMK St Luke from Sri Aman emerged as the overall champion of the Forum Remaja Madani Piala Pusingan Tuan Yang Terutama Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak 2025, a state-level competition, defeating strong contenders from across Sarawak.
The annual competition, which aims to cultivate confidence and eloquence among secondary school students through structured forums in standard Malay, was rebranded this year with the inclusion of the “Madani” concept to align with national values of unity, respect, and progress.
SMK Kubong from Limbang secured the runner-up position, while SMK Bintulu came in third.
Consolation prizes went to SMKA Sheikh Haji Othman Abdul Wahab, Kuching, and Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang, Miri.
In addition to the main forum competition, participants also competed for recognition in a video montage category.
SMKA Sheikh Haji Othman Abdul Wahab won first place in this segment, followed by SMK St Luke in second place and SMK Bintulu in third.
Consolation winners were SMK Kubong and Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang.
Notably, two students from SMK St Luke, Kaisarruzzaman Muhammad Kamarulnizam and Mohammad Suffian, received the Best Moderator and Best Panel awards, respectively, for their exemplary leadership and articulation during the forum sessions.
In his speech, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) director-general Hazami Jahari expressed pride in the competition’s evolution over 35 years and reaffirmed DBP’s commitment to language development among youth.
“The Forum Remaja, introduced in Peninsular Malaysia in 1989 and extended to Sarawak in 1990, has become a vital platform for students to practise the use of standard Malay and develop critical thinking and persuasive communication.”
Hazami stressed that the competition not only builds academic excellence but also nurtures strong social and interpersonal skills among students.
“In 2025, we are proud to see 60 teams from across the state participate, a sign of the competition’s continued relevance and appeal.
“We are truly grateful for the support of the Sarawak Education Department, the Astana Negeri, and other agencies in making this event a success.”
SMK St Luke will now represent Sarawak at the national-level competition.
