KUALA LUMPUR: Anas Rayyan Muhammad Shaifuddin and Amir Rayyan Muhammad Shaifuddin, Form 2 twin brothers at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK), have clinched the Gold Award in the prestigious 2024 Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition.
Their remarkable achievement came despite a tight timeline, as they crafted their award-winning essays during a brief visit to London to meet their elder sister, Sofea Arisya Muhammad Shaifuddin.
Sofea, a third-year student at the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, was participating in a study programme at King’s College London at the time.
The twins expressed their excitement and gratitude for the recognition, sharing how they poured their hearts into the essays.
"Winning this award motivates us to keep exploring new ways of expressing ourselves through writing,” they said in a joint statement to Bernama.
The twins have previously participated in other essay contests, but this marks their first entry into the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition.
Their essays, which explored ties between family values, unity, and cultural heritage, stood out among thousands of entries.
The essay by Anas, A Culinary Journey with Tok and Me, offered readers an intimate glimpse into his experiences learning traditional Malaysian cooking from his grandmother.
"Good ‘kuih-making’," according to his grandmother, "is about adding love and care into every step."
Anas said it taught him the importance of patience, creativity, and the value of bringing communities together through food.
Meanwhile, Amir's essay, A Malaysian Tale of Family and Unity, highlighted the significance of family gatherings during festive occasions like Eid.
He painted a vivid picture of the laughter, shared meals, and traditions that strengthen family bonds, emphasising that these values are essential in fostering unity within the Commonwealth.
"For me, these traditions are a symbol of strength and unity, ideas that I believe can resonate across the Commonwealth,” Amir said.
The competition's themes this year looked at family values, hospitality, cooperation, respect, and dignity - concepts which the twins naturally incorporated into their essays.
Anas and Amir credited their English teachers for their guidance and encouragement throughout their journey as young writers.
They also hoped that their stories would inspire others to explore the power of storytelling and help keep alive values like compassion and respect in today's rapidly evolving world. - BERNAMA
