| Achong Tanjong |
THE closing date of registration for the Malay Language Speech contest organised by the Hokkien Association Brunei Darussalam in collaboration with Radio Television Brunei (RTB) and Secretariat Office of the MIB Supreme Council has been extended until the end of October and not on October 22, as stated earlier.
The final competition and prize presentation ceremony will be held on November 24 at Dewan Raya RTB in the capital.
Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong is scheduled to attend.
Chairman of Hokkien Association Brunei Darussalam Lim Han Chiong, who’s also Registrar of Chinese Marriage for Brunei-Muara and Temburong districts and member of the Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB) Municipal Board, said the competition is held in conjunction with the association’s 20th anniversary celebration.
The competition aims to enhance the skill and fluency in using Malay Language as the official language of the country among the Tiong Hua community when communicating. It also aims to foster patriotism, improve communication skills with standard Malay Language and generate positive competitiveness.
With the theme ‘Negaraku Brunei Darussalam’, the competition is especially open to the Tiong Hua community residing in Brunei Darussalam.
The competition is divided into four categories – Category A for Year 4 to Year 6 and Category B for Year 7 to Year 10 pupils of Tiong Hua schools in the country.
Category C is open to all Brunei identity card holders of Tiong Hua race and Category D is open to members of Tiong Hua associations registered in Brunei.
The first round of the competition will be held November 10 at Ong Tiong Oh Hall of Chung Hwa Middle School, BSB to select three contestants from each category to compete in the final.
Judges will be appointed by the Information Department at the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Education, and Language and Literature Bureau at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
The top three winners in each category will receive BND300, BND200 and BND100 for Category A. For Category B – BND600, BND400, BND200, Category C – BND800, BND500, BND300 and Category D – BND1,000, BND700 and BND400.
Lim Han Chiong encouraged the Tiong Hua community to to participate in the competition to enhance their skills in Malay Language.