The MGS boria team and teachers celebrating their Juara Boria 2022 victory at Dewan Budaya in USM. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
PRACTICE makes perfect for Methodist Girls School (MGS) in Penang, which won the Juara Boria 2022 competition.
The 15-girl team’s rendition of the Keluarga Malaysia boria song was judged the best during the finale which was broadcast live by RTM.
They took home RM30,000, a trophy and certificates.
SMK (P) St George was the runner-up while SMK Permatang Tok Jaya took third place at the finale held at University Sains Malaysia’s Dewan Budaya.
MGS teacher Mohd Hazrin Zainudin, 37, who coached the girls, could not hide his delight.
“We did not expect to win. We had less than a week to prepare our new song and dance,” he said, adding that the girls had been practising hard since the school entered the competition in August.
Lead singer Adriana Azzara Mohd Rizal, 16, said, “All the schools that competed were excellent and we are thankful and surprised that we won.”
The competition attracted 11 schools throughout Penang.
Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said the objective of the contest was to revive traditional art forms, adding that the ministry would visit every state to identify the heritage elements that had disappeared.
“One lost art is ‘Awang Batil’ in Perlis and the ministry is looking to promote it among youngsters via competitions.
“This is a traditional form of musical storytelling. It is performed solo by the storyteller as he beats a brass bowl (batil),” he explained.
Zahidi said that restoring lost heritage was important to make the creative industry a major contributor to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
