Bandar Seri Begawan - Dayang Nurin Mirza Irdina binti Irwandie of St Andrew's school was crowned the champion of the 2012 National Pidato Competition between private primary schools yesterday when she outshone the rest of the 12 contestants, winning the heart of the judges in her speech.

The 10-year-old from Year Four delivered a short speech on the "Use of Facebook and the Good and Bad Influence on Student."

Dayang NurinMirza Irdina won the challenge trophy sponsored by Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Awang Abu Bakar bin Hj Apong, the Minister of Education who is also the Chairman of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.

Present to grace the competition was YAM Pengiran Anak 'Abdul Raqiib bin YAM Pengiran Maharaja Setia Laila Diraja Sahibul Irshad Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Rahim.

Also present was Awang Haji Brahim bin Hj Ismail, the Managing Director of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.

Ten-year-old Muhammad Naufal Roid Sinulingga from Tinkerbell Learning School came in second place with his topic on "Brunei as a Zikir Nation."

Meanwhile, Siti Nurhusnina binti Mahali of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Primary School took third place also with her topic "Brunei as a Zikir Nation."

Norbaini binti Hj Abdullah, the headmistress of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Primary School in her address said, "This is the fifth year Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Primary School has organised a pidato competition. In 2007 and 2008, the competition was only open to private schools in the Brunei-Muara District. Then the competition expanded to include private schools in all four districts in 2009."

She also said that the challenge trophy is sponsored by Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Awang Abu Bakar bin Hj Apong and any school that wins the competition three consecutive years is qualified to permanently keep the challenge trophy.

There were five topics for the competing students to choose from and each topics are aimed at instilling awareness to the young generation on the responsibility as a citizen of the country to be in good health in the aspects of physical, mental and emotion.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin