A beautiful night at Dorsett Grand Subang celebrating milestones, memories and new beginnings.

From inspiring speeches to heartfelt moments shared with teachers and friends, the ceremony was a tribute to everything our graduates have achieved – and everything they’re becoming.

Congratulations, Class of 2025! Your future starts now.

For more photos, please visit The Official SriKl Photo Gallery on Facebook.

The entire school community including board members, teachers, PTA parents and students were present for the send-off. Have a good one, girls! We’re proud of you!

Go TEAM Malaysia!

Happy together: Sri Kuala Lumpur students posing together after performing at Sri Kuala Lumpur.

PETALING JAYA: Learning to dance, especially traditional ones, is a gateway to promoting unity and cross-cultural understanding among Malaysians, says Imran Syafiq Mohd Affandi.

The ASK Dance Company managing director started learning Malay dances when he was 13 but embraced the traditional dances of other cultures, from the Chinese fan dance to the Kadazandusun folk dance, when he studied at Aswara (National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage).

For his degree, Imran decided to major in the Bharatanatyam, the classical Indian dance.

“Learning all these traditional dances made me a better Malay­sian,” said Imran, 27, during the #DanceSomethingNice programme at Sri Kuala Lumpur.

#DanceSomethingNice is part of #SaySomethingNice, an annual campaign that seeks to use the 17 days between National Day and Malaysia Day as a time for positivity.

Imran said as dance was a translation of a culture’s story, beliefs, gestures and even food, he gained insight into the different traditions and lifestyles.

“In the Bharatanatyam, we tell folklore and stories of their gods. From there, we understand their beliefs, how they live, why they go to temple every fortnight or eat certain spices,” Imran said.

Learning dances originating from a different culture was not a problem for Imran.

He said there was separation between his faith and appreciating the dance purely as an art form.

“In fact, a lot of the sacred rituals that is part of the Bharatanatyam has been altered, making it not a religious performance but a cultural experience,” he said.

Imran said traditional dancers and performers were an important part of nation-building as they were the keeper and ambassador of a nation’s culture heritage.

Sri Kuala Lumpur student dancer Jayden Roy Joseph said dancing pushed his limits and allowed him to know and be his true self.

“When I dance, I can be myself and not who people want me to be,” the 12-year-old said.

Today, Chew Teck Ann is the principal of Sri KL International School. He describes it as a 24/7 job.

Terengganu native Chew Teck Aun has worn two hats during his 46 years in the teaching profession.

He was a teacher of Maths and Chemistry before his promotion to senior assistant, a post he held for 12 years. Later he rose to the rank of principal, while continuing to teach Add Maths, at SMK Kepong Baru in Kuala Lumpur for nine years before his retirement from public service.

He was awarded the title of Super Principal by the Education Ministry in 1996, for significantly improving student achievement at SMK Kepong Baru. And in 2003, he was awarded Tokoh Guru Wilayah.

Whilst being a teacher is “a respectable job”, he said, being a principal can be “extremely rewarding”.

“I enjoyed every moment of being a teacher. Besides Maths and Chemistry, I also taught my students compassion, morals and (how to make) wise choices,” said the sixty-something.

Presently, he is the principal of Sri KL International School, in Subang Jaya, Selangor, where he has worked for about 17 years.

Chew attended primary school in Kemaman, Terengganu. He completed his secondary schooling in Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur. While pursuing further education in Universiti Malaya, he majored in Chemistry and Mathematics. He later obtained a Diploma of Education at the same university.

Although Chew’s career has been in education, he had wanted to be an engineer because of his love for Science and Maths. But destiny took him on a different path. “I was offered a scholarship to pursue teaching,” he reminisced.

“In the old days, teaching was often viewed as the most important profession. I took the scholarship, became a teacher, and never looked back,” he said. On reflection, he said that if he had not become a teacher, he might have ventured into business.

Sri KL’s principal Chew briefing his senior assistants R. Thanasekaran Ramaiya (left) and S. Kamala Devi.

The work is never done

His workday begins at 5.15am when he starts getting ready for school. His day officially ends at 4.45pm. On weekends, he enjoys playing golf with his friends.

Chew feels he can use his authoritative role to inspire and make a difference in students’ lives. He believes in building positive relationships with students and their parents.

Teaching is hard work but also most satisfying, for him. He likes to see his students reach their full potential. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing his students become successful, he said.

He is also contented when seeing problematic students start to improve their behaviour and get better grades. A principal’s job, he said, is “unpredictable, intellectually challenging, physically demanding and never done”.

“It’s a 24/7 job. Just when you think you’ve hired the last teacher, conducted the last meeting, disciplined a few naughty kids, dealt with that last phone call from a parent, someone or something else will always demand your attention,” he said.

No two days are alike. Even in school, he’s in a busy and fast-paced environment. “I must be sensitive to a variety of immediate and long-term demands and assist others in decision-making. I do what is best for my students and the school community,” he said.

Chew Teck Aun had wanted to be an engineer because of his love for Maths and Science. But life took him on a different path when he accepted a scholarship to pursue teaching. He has not looked back since.

Beyond teaching

Education, he said, is more than just grades. Character-building has become an increasingly important issue. Children are under pressure to achieve, to be competitive, said Chew.

“When a child doesn’t perform, we have to look at issues such as discipline, values, and the support and availability of the parents. There are many factors that affect a student’s performance. We need to find out the reasons a student isn’t performing well.

“Parents putting pressure on children will never solve the problem. A child will feel less inspired and more threatened if they feel pressured.” Chew said it is normal for parents to have high expectations of their children but these should not be unrealistic.

Having worked in both government and private schools, he explained the difference: “In a government school, a principal has more responsibilities – from running the school to taking care of finances and dealing with urgent repairs. In a private school, the principal’s only focus is to run the school.”

Chew said his father was “most inspirational” to him.

He said: “He taught me many valuable life lessons. He believed in being firm, and encouraged me to stand up for what I believed in. My father also taught me logical reasoning, kindness, compassion, honesty and discipline applied with understanding.”

Chew is passionate about his work, giving his best shot regardless of age. He reckoned that he should “do the right thing, not the popular thing”.

Retirement, he opined, should not be the goal when one can still contribute positively. He said: “I will know in my heart when it is time to call it quits. Until that day comes, I will focus on what I’m capable of and do my best for the school.”

Record win: Cyrens posting with their coveted trophy

PETALING JAYA: The Cyrens of SM Sri Kuala Lumpur continued their domination of the Malaysian competitive cheerleading scene with a record-extending seventh consecutive CHEER title.

“My girls really deserved this, they have worked so hard and we had so many new members so I’m very proud of them for catching up to win,” said Cyrens team captain Cassandra Yang, 16, whose team won the co­veted High School Senior All Girl trophy.

The other winners at the CHEER 2016 Finals held at Tropicana City Mall yesterday were Co-Ed Category champions Calyx Junior of SMJK Katholik and All-Girls Junior cham­pions Anselm Junior of SMK Infant Jesus Convent, who beat five-time Junior cham­pions Rayvens from SM Sri Kuala Lumpur. check that

Sunway University Cheerleading Senior won the first ever trophy in the brand-new University Coed Elite category, which comprised four university-level teams from Xia­men University, Tunku Abdul Rahman Univer­sity College and two from Sunway University.

All four winning teams received RM1,500 each and an assortment of products courtesy of sponsors like Grab Malaysia, Reebok and Clinelle.

In it’s 17th edition, CHEER is Malaysia’s most prestigious cheerleading competition.

“Well done to all teams! Some teams in particular have improved a lot,” said president of Cheerleading Association and Register of Malaysia Beverly Hon.

A special social video broadcast was run by The Star’s award-winning youth news platform R.AGE, allowing audiences at the venue and around the world to watch all the performances on the CHEER Facebook page (fb.com.my/thestarCHEER). Those watching from home and abroad could comment in real time, supporting their teams online.

To watch all the teams’ performances from the social video broadcast, go to fb.com.my/thestarCHEER.

CHEER 2016 was organised by R.AGE.

Grab Malaysia was the official transportation partner.

KUCHING: Swimmers anchored Sarawak to retain its status as the country’s Paralympics powerhouse with 84 gold medals in the just concluded 18th Malaysia Paralympic Games to emerge champion for the 12th consecutive edition.

Khairy presents the Best Female Athlete award to Carmen Lim of Selangor.

The state’s strong contingent of 201 athletes grabbed 220 medals, including 63 silver and 73 bronze, throughout the five-day event since Aug 6 and became overall champion in swimming, tenpin bowling and powerlifting. This feat enabled Sarawak to surpass its initial target of 80 gold medals. The state has won the biennial National Paralympic Games since 1994. More details at nätcasino.co

Aquatics was the biggest contributor to the state’s medal tally with 39 gold, 17 silver and 11 bronze. Although the accomplishment failed to match the state’s aquatic performance in the previous Paralympic Games in Perlis of 44 gold medals, Sarawak swimmers have every reason to be proud of surpassing the 38-gold medal target.

Athletics contributed the second biggest medal haul with with 24 gold, 36 silver and 44 bronze while tenpin bowling contributed nine gold, two silver and nine bronze. The state’s powerlifters meanwhile, managed to clinch six gold, three silver and two bronze. Sarawak peddlers had a good outing in the games, winning five gold, a silver and one bronze.

Badminton contributed one gold, one silver and one bronze while chess gave the state three silver and four bronze medals. Sarawak athletes did not make the podium in archery and lawn-bowl.

This year’s edition of the Paralympics saw a much improved overall performance whereby 50 new meet records were created including two national records in powerlifting. Swimming stole the limelight throughout the games, where 46 meet records were shattered. Sarawak swimmers contributed to 16 of the records.

Sarawak’s Endi Bak lifted 107kg in the men’s 54kg category to erase the previous national record of 105kg, while Vision Jasnie of Pahang lifted 148kg in the men’s 65kg category to beat the previous national record of 147kg.

A total of 943 athletes from throughout the country took part in this year’s Paralympic Games. Johor took second place with 35 gold, 25 silver and 15 bronze while Terengganu finished third with medal haul of 30 gold, 24 silver and 19 bronze.

Meanwhile, swimmers Yoong Chung Wei of Penang and Selangor’s Carmen Lim were crowned Best Male and Female athletes respectively in the 2016 Sarawak Paralympics. Both definitely stole the limelight in this year’s swimming, each breaking four meet records.

Yoong, 21, broke the games record in the S14 classification men’s 100m butterfly, 100m breast stroke, 100m backstroke and 50m breaststroke SB14 category.

Carmen broke the women’s 100m breaststroke SB8 classification, 50m breaststroke, 100m freestyle S8 category and 50m freestyle. It was understood that the 16-year-old swimmer also broke the Asean record in the 50m freestyle which beat the previous time of 39.14s set in the 2015 Singapore’s Para Games.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin officiated at the closing ceremony held at the State Unity Stadium. Also present was Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah. The next National Paralympic Games will be held in Perak in 2018.

PETRA JAYA: The government will present the same rewards to Malaysian para-athletes as enjoyed by their able-bodied comrades, should they win any international sports competitions.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the reward system was different three years ago, where the value of rewards received by para-athletes were slightly less than regular athletes.

Youth & Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin presents the Malaysia Paralympiad 2016 Sports Girl award to 16-year-old smimmer Carmen Lim

“After I was appointed as a minister, I immediately checked with my officers on the value of the rewards received by the two groups. “I was told that the amount (for para-athletes) was 30 per cent of the amount given to able-bodied sportsmen.

“The ministry immediately changed the system. If you are a national athlete who wins gold in an international tournament, then you deserve to receive the same token of appreciation as an able-bodied sportsman,” said Khairy in his speech during the closing ceremony of the National Paralympic Games 2016 at Sarawak’s Unity Stadium here tonight.

Present were State Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah and State Secretary Tan Sri Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani.

The event, said Khairy, was proof that the government is always looking into ways to create the same opportunities for sportsmen with different abilities.

“And Malaysia can be proud that our country, through various events, provide opportunities for all people, regardless of their abilities, to represent the nation at the highest level. “If the 18th Malaysia Games, which was held recently in Sarawak, had excited our souls, this event (National Paralympic Games) moved our hearts,” he said.

“To all paralympic athletes here, I am aware that you were told that you are different from others. “Let me tell you this. You are not only different but extraordinary. “You put people with normal abilities to shame with your extraordinary skill and will to succeed,” said Khairy.

Khairy later presented the overall championship title to the Sarawak contingent, which won 84 gold, 63 silver and 73 bronze medals.

He also presented the best men and women athletes awards to Yoong Chung Wei from Penang and Carmen Lim from Selangor. 

KUALA LUMPUR: All eyes may be on Pandelela Rinong, and Cheong Jun Hoong at the Rio Olympics, but another star is also making waves closer to home.

Carmen Lim may only be 16, but has already smashed four national swimming records over three days at the ongoing Malaysia Paralympiad 2016 in Kuching.

Lim, who was born with one arm, this morning won the 50m breaststroke event with a time of 47.32s, shaving off five seconds from the previous record of 53.43s.

Soon after, she clocked 38.52s in the 50m freestyle event, breaking the Para Asean record she had set last year.

Today’s feat was a continuation of her domination in the pool. Two days ago, Lim set a new national record for the 100m freestyle when she clocked in at 1:29.93, slashing 31 seconds off her previous timing of 2:02.42.

She continued her momentum by setting another record of 1:44.91 in the 100m breaststroke, 15 seconds faster than the previous timing of 1:59.51.

The Malaysia Paralympiad 2016 is currently being held in Kuching, Sarawak. The five-day event ends today. A total of 15 teams participated across nine sports and disciplines.

In a telephone interview with the New Straits Times from Kuching today, Lim said she was tired but happy.

“I’m pleased that I broke my Para Asean record for 50m freestyle. Actually, I know I can do much better. For the past month, I have been training in the pool before and after school.”

Lim spends much of her week training at her school as a member of the Sri KL Sharkies. She is currently swimming competitively under the National Sports Council programme via the Selangor Team banner.

A year ago, Lim burst into the international scene when she stunned the Singapore Aquatics Hub audience, clinching a gold medal for Malaysia at the Para Asean Games 2015.

As the youngest competitor in the 50m freestyle S8 category, she set an impressive 39.14s timing, an Asean record surpassing that of 45-year-old Thai veteran competitor Thongbai Chaisawas.

Coach Loke Chee Heng (left) with Malaysia’s fastest one-armed woman swimmer Carmen Lim and Selangor Chef de Mission Mohd Nor Said (right) at the closing ceremony of the Malaysia Paralympiad 2016, held in Kuching, Sarawak.

Lim’s coach, Loke Chee Heng expressed pride over his charge’s achievements.

“I’m so proud of her achievements. She has been training so hard since she got back from last year’s Para Asean Games,” Loke said.

“I hope the judges will take note that Carmen deserves to be awarded the overall champion for women swimmers, considering she has just smashed the Para Asean record for 50m freestyle category. This is really a big achievement for Malaysia,” Loke added.

Loke revealed that Lim harbour a long-term goal of winning a medal for Malaysia at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

“She has four years from now to improve her timings in international waters. At the rate she’s going now, I have tremendous faith in Carmen’s ability,” he said.

Next month, Lim’s teammates will be competing at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games 2016.

Paralympic swimming is an adaptation of the sport of swimming for athletes with disabilities. The criteria for the Paralympic swim team is different. Swimmers in different classifications race each other and points are awarded for clocked in times.

The naming and categorisation of each competitor’s impairment is in part a result of the Games themselves. The freestyle, butterfly and backstroke events are classified 1 through 10 with an “S” before each number. The S1 through S10 categories are for swimmers with a physical impairment.

The S1 category is for the most severe physical disabilities and as the number increases to S10, the difficulty lessens.

Categories such as S11-13 (for swimmers with a visual impairment), are used in an effort to ensure a level playing field for athletes in each event.

Carmen Lim may only be 16, but has already smashed four national swimming records over three days at the ongoing Malaysia Paralympiad 2016 in Kuching.

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