Bandar Seri Begawan - A student of Hassanal Bolkiah Boys Arabic Secondary School (SMALHB), Lina Musfirah binti Hj Abd Wahab emerged the champion of the national-level Syair Declamation Contest 2012 in the Sixth Form Centres category, after defeating four contestants with the highest score of 61.66 per cent, reciting the syair (minstrelsy) entitled "Tambang Siti Zubaidah" during the competition finals yesterday.

The champion brought forth a mesmerising declamation which put her in front of Rajah bin Hj Aji of Meragang Sixth Form Centre (PTEM) and Raihani Asyiqin binti Hj Suhaili of Maktab Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah (MDPMAMB), who won second and third places, respectively.

Meanwhile Nur Haziqah Haziyah @ Nur Husna binti Hj Hassan, who recited the same syair, "Tambang Siti Zubaidah", was the winner of the Secondary Schools/Colleges 2012 category with a score of 68.33 per cent.

Ak Khairuddin bin Pg Kamaluddin of Rimba II Secondary School (SMR II) was the runner-up in that category with 63 per cent, while Berakas Secondary School (SMB) student Siti Nadhirah binti Hj Mustapah came in third with 54.66 per cent.

The Syair Declamation Contest was organised by the MIB Supreme Council and was managed by the Co-Curriculum Education Department, Ministry of Education.

Present as guest of honour at the competition finals yesterday was the Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Mohd Yusof.

Also present were members of the MIB Supreme Council, permanent secretaries, deputy permanent secretaries, members of the MIB Supreme Council Secretariat, heads of department, directors-general, directors, assistant directors, principals, senior officers, and officers and staff from the Ministry of Education.

The Senior Special Duties Officer and Secretary/Chief Secretariat of the MIB Supreme Council, Dr Awg Hj Muhammad Hadi bin Muhammad Melayong said that the functionality of MIB Supreme Council is to balance the duties and responsibilities as a national body to strengthen and enhance the philosophy of the MIB and also to strengthen the love of religion, monarch, nation and state that form the shield against the challenges of globalisation for the peace and security of Brunei Darussalam.

Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, the 28th Sultan of Brunei developed poetic works filled with ideas, views and important philosophies which, in the guest of honour's opinion, are good and suitable to be used as reference in disciplines of knowledge.

An MIB book entitled "An Approach" and a certificate of participation were handed to participants. Trophies were also handed to the top three winners, contributed by Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.

The main objective of the final stage ofthe Syair Declamation Contest for Sixth Form Centres and Secondary Schools/Colleges 2012 is to encourage every sixth form centre and secondary school or college to revive the traditional crafts activities of Brunei such as poetry declamations and raising awareness amongst the students on the isolation and dissipation of the Brunei poetry due to popular music, which has influenced the minds of the younger generations.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin