Malay teen excels in Chinese school

GEORGE TOWN: A 17-year-old Malay boy is in the spotlight after a video of him receiving five top awards at a national Chinese school went viral.

Ahmad Khidir Ahmad Nazri walked onstage to receive multiple accolades, including the Student of the Year award, first place in his class, first place in the Arts stream as well as awards for highest marks in Bahasa Melayu and Islamic Studies.

It has been a unique journey for the youngest of six siblings, who is studying at SMJK Heng Ee (Main Campus).

Raised by a single mother, he is the only one in his family to pursue education in a Chinese-medium school.

“It was actually an experimental decision for my mom because my other siblings attended various types of schools such as sports schools, technical schools and convent schools.

“Since she had already explored different schooling options with them, she wanted to try something new and believed that enrolling me in a Chinese-medium school would be beneficial for my future,” he said during an interview at his school yesterday.

Ahmad Khidir said it took him three years to become fluent in Mandarin.

His mother, a clerk with a private company, had first enrolled him in a Chinese-medium kindergarten.

“In kindergarten, we were taught basic Chinese, but I didn’t know how to apply the language in real-life conversations so it was challenging for me,” he said.

He stressed that his mother played a crucial role in helping him master the language and excel academically.

Despite not knowing Chinese herself, she would still check his homework, often seeking help from her colleagues or peers to ensure everything was correct.

Ahmad Khidir is among 35 Malay students at his school, which has a total of 1,970 students.

Despite the challenges he faced, he has excelled both academically and in extracurricular activities, holding positions such as deputy head prefect, vice-president of the Choir Club and vice-president of the Police Cadet Corps.

“Being in a Chinese school has given me a rare opportunity to grow and understand a different culture.

“My friends usually invite me to celebrate Chinese New Year with them and I’ve learned so much about their traditions.

“This experience has taught me that diversity is a strength,” he explained.

Ahmad Khidir’s proficiency in Mandarin has also garnered admiration from peers and teachers alike.

“My mother always encouraged me to speak Mandarin without fear of making mistakes. Practice makes perfect and it’s okay to learn from errors,” he shared.

Ahmad Khidir loves his mother tongue and has excelled in public speaking competitions.

A video of him accepting the five awards at his school recently went viral on social media, with over 1,000 shares and likes.

He was one of the three Malay students at the school to receive awards for academic excellence, and was presented with a certificate of appreciation for his contributions as deputy head prefect.

Ahmad Khidir thanked his schoolmates for their support and for not making him feel out of place despite their cultural differences.

“My friends have been a great help. For example, when I need to write a speech in Mandarin, they are always eager to assist and offer to review it for me,” he said.

Similarly, his friends would seek his help with subjects they found challenging, such as Bahasa Melayu, fostering a mutual exchange of knowledge and support.

Meanwhile, fellow prefect and friend Tan Boon Pin, 17, said he got to know Ahmad Khidir when they were in Form Three.

“He was a junior prefect in charge then, and I noticed that he liked helping others in academic or co-curricular activities,” he said.

Tan said Ahmad Khidir not only excels academically but also has excellent leadership qualities.

“He always helps me if I don’t know how to do my homework, and as his friend, I am proud that he was chosen as the Student of the Year,” he said.

Ahmad Khidir’s teacher Lim Fong Mei described him as a hardworking and dedicated student who is always eager to learn and ask questions.

“He is very diligent and we are all very proud of him,” she said.

She added that occasionally, he even takes on the role of a mentor, helping his peers with challenging topics.

“He’s always ready to share his knowledge with others,” Lim said.