An early intervention programme is helping island students step beyond their comfort zones and prepare for a brighter future
OPPORTUNITIES mean little if students are not ready to step beyond their comfort zones.
This insight came to the attention of Allianz Malaysia on Pulau Tuba, Langkawi, when it first planned to introduce a technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programme to take youth off the island for 18 months of job training, but the plan was met with lukewarm response.
Prompted to move upstream, the investment holding company has gone on to engage children from the island community early – long before career choices come into play – through its Allianz Eco Quest (AEQ) environmental and education programme.
Recalling the initial stage of the initiative, Allianz Malaysia chairman Zakri Mohd Khir said his team came to the island to interview students for the TVET programme.
“None of them wanted to leave. They were very comfortable here. The moment you take them out of that environment, they become extremely distressed,” he said during a press conference at SMK Langkawi recently.
By the time youth reach the age of 18 or 20, Zakri noted, they are often too deeply entrenched in the local system to leave.
This challenge, he said, is compounded by a stark educational gap – out of every 100 children who enter Year One on the island, only about 30 make it to Form Five.
“Some Year Four children still struggle to read,” he added, highlighting the urgency of early intervention.
To bridge these gaps, Allianz Malaysia piloted the AEQ at SK Pulau Tuba in 2022 in partnership with Incredible Hearts PLT, a social enterprise specialising in gamified education, with the programme fully rolled out at the school in 2023.
The initiative, Zakri said, focuses on students in Years Four to Six.
“At that age, they are better able to understand instructions and develop the comprehension skills needed to succeed,” he explained.
Building on the success of the primary school programme, Allianz Malaysia is expanding the AEQ to SMK Langkawi, with support for both schools committed until 2028.
“By extending the AEQ, we are empowering our alumni to become mentors, role models and changemakers, ensuring that the values of environmental stewardship and lifelong learning continue to grow within the community,” Allianz Malaysia chief executive officer Sean Wang said during the programme launch at the school.
Attendees at the event held on Jan 15 included Langkawi Development Authority corporate unit assistant manager Mohammad Shauqi Md Rezali, who is also the Pulau Tuba Madani Adopted Village coordinating officer; Incredible Hearts PLT chief executive officer Nurul Asna Hidayah Mior Abdul Rahman; and SMK Langkawi principal Aizal Azri Zakaria.
About AEQ
FOLLOWING a 2022 pilot, Allianz Malaysia launched the Allianz Eco Quest (AEQ) in 2023 through its corporate social responsibility arm, in collaboration with social enterprise Incredible Hearts PLT.
The initial two-year project supported 75 students, aged 10 to 12, at SK Pulau Tuba, engaging them in place-based and eco-education activities.
The ongoing curriculum, which aims to spark a deeper appreciation for nature and renewed interest in education, uses customised gamified learning to make environmental conservation both interactive and motivating.
The programme now extends to SMK Langkawi, shifting its focus towards preparing older students for the future. Key pillars include:
> Diverse learning tracks: In its first year, students are organised into three core clubs – STEM, Sports and Expression – with two additional clubs planned for the coming years.
> Integrated membership: While different age groups take the lead in managing specific clubs, all learners maintain active membership across every club to ensure a well-rounded experience.
> Dual-led sessions: To balance guidance with autonomy, the programme holds two sessions per month – one led by expert facilitators and another led by the students themselves.
> The mentorship loop: An annual camp serves as the year-end capstone to foster character and teamwork. Here, secondary students take on the responsibility of facilitating activities for their primary school counterparts.
To date, the AEQ has engaged 45 primary school learners and 30 alumni members aged 13 to 14, many of whom now contribute as facilitators within the island’s educational ecosystem. The programme will run at both primary and secondary levels from this year to 2028.
Shaping young minds
“In the early stages of the AEQ programme, our students were shy, hesitant to speak up, and afraid to interact with people from outside the school.
After the programme was implemented, we saw a clear impact. Our students became more confident.
Real impact happens when activities are conducted regularly. If a programme is only held for one day, students may enjoy it, but they go home and eventually forget about it.”
— Muhd Nizam Ishak, 53, SK Pulau Tuba administration senior assistant
“Our children have potential. What they need is opportunity – to be trained, to develop, and to step out of their comfort zones.
When a school receives an initiative like this, we are genuinely happy because it opens up opportunities not only for the children, but also for their parents.
I have seen changes where students are now more interested in professional fields. Previously, after finishing school, they would simply take whatever opportunities came their way.
Pulau Tuba is a remote community. Many people are familiar with Pulau Langkawi but not Pulau Tuba.
Programmes like this help bring attention to the island and create a focal point for engagement.”
— Ahmad Nazri Ramli, 46, village head
“I am excited to hear that the facilitators would continue to be involved in the secondary school programme, as I have been part of the AEQ for the past three years.
I became a mentor at SK Pulau Tuba after being selected as a leader during a camp. That experience helped me build confidence. I also learnt to understand English better. Before joining the programme, I did not really have a clear dream. Now, I know that I want to become a professional gamer.”
— Danial Haziq Md Hapizi, 15, SMK Langkawi student
