JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 20 – The Language Academy recently hosted the much-anticipated Poetry Recital Competition & Art Exhibition at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Mutiara Rini, marking the grand finale of a three-month program held from August to October 2024. Spearheaded by Dr. Faraha Hamidi, the program encompassed three intensive poetry-writing modules, culminating in this final event where 29 participants captivated the audience with their poetic talent. The event was officiated by SMK Mutiara Rini’s principal, Zanariah M. Yasin, who expressed pride in the students’ accomplishments and the creative growth they demonstrated throughout the program.

An esteemed panel of judges lent their expertise to the competition, including Mohd Azhar Mohtar from the Johor State Education Department (JPNJ), Dr. Nur Salwa Abd. Wahid, Abid Zulfadhli Razali, and Nur Shamsinar Ramli from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), as well as Premah R. Ramasamy and Norlin Ariffin from SMK Mutiara Rini. The judges commended the participants for their creativity, confidence, and expressive performances, which contributed to the event’s inspiring atmosphere.

Lakshana Shri Dinesh emerged as the competition’s winner, with Pradhiksha Menon Muralidharan and Assintha Thangarajan securing second and third places, respectively. Special awards for Best Artwork were presented to Roshaan Shatesh Kumar and Basyarani Md Pauzi, further celebrating the creative expressions on display. The event was attended by proud parents and teachers from SMK Mutiara Rini, who joined in celebrating the students’ achievements. A zine compiling the works of all participants is set to be published next year, capturing the voices and creativity that made this program a memorable success.

Written by:

Nurhidayah Mohd Sharif, Atiqah Shahruddin & Faraha Hamidi

Source: UTM NewsHub