KUALA LUMPUR: The first ever Spell-It-Right (SIR) challenge, a joint corporate social responsibility effort by RHB Bank and the New Straits Times, served two purposes in its conception.

New Straits Times Press (M) chairman Tan Sri Mohamed Jawhar Hassan said yesterday: "This was our way of challenging young and vibrant minds in the English language while bringing together students from all ethnic and religious groups.

"It is common to hear that employers find it difficult to find recruits who are proficient in English. The heavy use of SMS language and reliance on the computer spell-checker have contributed to this problem."

Jawhar, who was speaking at the SIR national finals at Muzium Negara, said the challenge was one more building brick in the enduring effort to cut across barriers and build a more united nation.

Present were Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, NSTP chief executive officer Datuk Syed Faisal Albar, RHB Investment Bank chairman Datuk Abdullah Mat Noh and RHB Capital group managing director Michael J. Barrett.
Jawhar said: "The 28 students here representing their states deserve the highest praise and should be celebrated for their right to be here.

"As much as this is a competition about words, this challenge is also a platform to recognise the qualities of confidence, courage, assurance and poise."

He said the NST had been widely used as an alternative source for learning English in schools, leading to the launching of the NST School Sponsorship programme two years ago.

SIR saw the participation of 1,959 students from 490 government primary and secondary schools over the last four months.

RHB Bank chairman Datuk Azlan Zainol said RHB, with NST, was proud to be preparing the young generation for future global challenges by mastering the English language.

"The challenge has generated a lot of positive feedback. We are pledging our financial backing for next year's challenge, even if it is a larger amount."