COMPETITIONS can be nerve-racking, but that was precisely why Crystin Dang Jiar Qi took part in one recently.
“I was hoping to conquer my nervousness under pressure. I think I have done it,” the 18-year-old said.
Not only did she overcome her nerves, but the Shen Jai High School, Perak, student also emerged as the first-place winner in the Mind Mapping Competition, taking home RM4,000 in prize money.
“My teachers, one of whom is my mum, encouraged me to take part. It felt surreal, especially after winning the prize,” she said.
Dang was among the participants at the 20th Malaysia Festival of the Mind (MFotM), held at the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Kampar Campus in Perak on Aug 6 and 7.
The festival, organised by the Malaysia Mental Literacy Movement (MMLM) in collaboration with the Knowledge and Learning Engineering Science Fair (formerly known as the Kuala Lumpur Engineering Science Fair), UTAR and Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, featured the Mind Competitions, which comprised mind mapping, memory and mental calculation.
Lee Jing Min, 13, who came in second in the Mind Mapping Competition, said she entered with the intention of gaining new knowledge and exposure to competitions.
“Going up on stage and receiving the award was especially rewarding,” said the SMK Methodist Girls’ School, Perak, student, who received an RM2,000 cash prize.
Chew Yu Meng, 15, who has participated in the Mind Competitions since she was 13, said she views each challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow.
The Seri Omega Private and International School, Johor, student proved her mettle by clinching the top prize in the random numbers category of the Memory Competition, taking home RM4,000.
“My memory coach encouraged me to gain more experience, which is why I have been participating every year.
“Through this competition, I met many talented opponents, motivating me to work harder and continue improving myself,” she said.
Seven-year-old Melanie Keh Rue An from Kuala Lumpur also enjoyed a successful outing at the festival.
She emerged as the Special Prize Award winner in the Mental Calculation Competition category for participants under nine years old, bagging RM500.
“I have been practising for this competition and I am glad that there’s progress. I look forward to next year’s competition,” she said, alongside her father Keh Ee Yen and mother Christine Lok.
Sharing his daughter’s journey, Ee Yen said Melanie started learning mental arithmetic when she was four.
“Over the past two years, we have seen her grow in this journey. Hence, we wanted her to participate in this event in order for her to gain more exposure and experience in similar mind-related events,” he said in a press release.
Individual winners were not the only ones feted at the festival.
With the most number of students taking part in multiple competition categories, SMK Bandar Baru Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, was crowned the recipient of the Best School Award, recognising its outstanding overall performance at the Mind Competitions
Representing the school, Biology Excellent Teacher Yeo Lai Bo expressed appreciation for the award, which came with an RM500 cash prize.
“I feel incredibly proud and grateful, as we are just an ordinary school. It wasn’t easy, but this award reflects our teamwork, commitment and belief in giving every student the opportunity to participate.
“We encourage students to learn through hands-on activities in the classroom or in co-curricular activities and creative projects.
“We also encourage students to join innovation competitions at national and international levels. By making learning engaging and meaningful, students develop creativity, problem-solving skills, confidence and a lifelong passion for learning,” he said.
Themed “Innovate the Mind, Empower the Future”, the MFotM, which drew the participation of students, educators, industry partners and the public, also featured science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities, including coding challenges, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) demonstrations, and hands-on experiments.
Other sessions included mental literacy talks, creative thinking workshops, and mindfulness and wellness programmes.
SMK Sultan Yussuf, Perak, students Qayyum Daniel Shahrul Nizam and Muhammad Riezman Abdullah, who were exhibitors at the STEM Challenge, relished their debut participation in the festival.
“We enjoyed the opportunity to gain new knowledge while preparing for our project. Through this experience, we learnt many new things,” they said.
The launching ceremony was officiated by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Chang Lih Kang, MMLM chairperson Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Dr Chuah Hean Teik, UTAR president Prof Datuk Dr Ewe Hong Tat, MMLM patron Toh Puan Ena Ling, and organising chairperson Assoc Prof Dr Nurul Iman Abdul Jalil.
In his speech, Chang stressed that humans should not be overly reliant on AI, but should instead think critically, make ethical decisions and use technology responsibly.
Prof Chuah said a robust mind not only cultivates active thinking, but also fosters creative innovations, instils ethical leadership and creates resilient solutions.
“These skills are essential to complement one’s AI literacy, so every user can exercise sound judgement and evaluate critically when using AI tools,” he said.
SMK Air Kuning, Perak, students learning through play
The festival caught my attention as it was new to me. I had fun with all my friends, socialising with new people, learning new things, and discovering everyone’s amazing innovations. My favourite activity was the colouring activity, because it made me feel calm and at peace.
Siti Zulaikha
We joined the festival because we were inspired by the innovative projects in fields such as robotics, astronomy and agriculture. We hoped to gain new knowledge, so we participated in the skills and robotics activities. Through these activities, we gained deeper insights into programming and enjoyed testing our skills in solving puzzles.
Muhammad Adam Harris and Khaleed Bashar
I enjoyed the activities while learning new knowledge. My favourite activity was the tangram challenge, as it not only strengthened brain power and reduced stress, but was also fun and enjoyable.
Suganeswaran Vigniswaran
My favourite activity was the challenge where we had to remember the position of an object and put it back in place within 15 seconds. I gained various new experiences and I hope there will be much more fun activities in the future.
Baiq Hadirah
