KUALA TERENGGANU: Despite being visually-impaired, teenage student Nur Syuhada Alias has a clear vision of her goals.
The demure girl proved that her disability will not be a hurdle towards academic or sporting excellence.
Syuhada, 17, won the Special Award at the Terengganu Foundation’s Gold Medal for excellence in SPM/STPM/STAM examinations at Taman Tamadun Islam in Pulau Wan Man here.
She had scored five As in her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) last year.
The student from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bukit Besar in Kampung Baru Kertih had said that despite the lack of adequate reading material and equipment in Braille, she still manage to score good grades.
“I am not grudging, let alone feel pitiful for being blind but there needs to be better facilities for visually impaired students like me, so we can better educate ourselves and progress in society.
“We do not want to be frowned upon as a handicapped lot, for there are many talented blind students out there,” said Syuhada, who received her award from Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman.
Syuhada plans to further her studies to become an ustazah (religious teacher) and is now doing her Tahfiz foundation studies with Darul Quran Jakim.
In 2015, Syuhada won her school’s excellence award for co-curriculum, of which she was the chairman of the school’s religious association and treasurer of the Girl Guides.
Last year, she won the Disabled Children’s Excellence Award in conjunction with World Children’s Day.
In 2013, Syuhada emerged the long jump champion in the national special schools track and field championship, and followed it up with silver in the 100m sprint event last year.
A year earlier, she was also Terengganu’s disabled Quran recital champion and was placed third at the national level.
Syuhada is the second of four children of Petronas landscape artist Alias Salleh, 55, and housewife Norma Mohd Ali, 49.
Alias said Syuhada has shown true grit and promise in overcoming her disadvantage by studying diligently since young, especially in reciting the Quran.
“We are very proud of her and wish her a successful future,” said Alias.
Razif said he would personally look into the plight of Syuhada and other visually impaired students sharing her predicament.
“I understand the present shortcomings and will liaise with the Education Department and Ministry to see how best to tackle the situation to assist talented students like Syuhada,” said Razif.
At the ceremony, the two other students who won the Gold Medal in academic excellence and RM5,000 each were Kemaman’s Husna Mardhiyyah Mohd Fauzi from Sekolah Menengah Imtiaz Yayasan Teengganu, and Najmuddin Mohd Razif from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama. Both 17-year-olds scored 11 As each in their SPM.
Husna has been Terengganu’s champion Quran reciter for the past three years. Last year, she was named the runner-up at national and international competitions.
She has also won two silvers and two bronzes in Terengganu’s schools taekwondo championships over the years.
She wants to be a lecturer and will pursue her degree at the International Islamic University next year.
Husna is the second of five children of businessman Mohd Fauzi Ibrahim and English teacher Dahliana Mohd Dagang.
As for Najmuddin, he is the fifth of seven children of Mohd Razif Abdul Majid and Nor Aizan Sulong, and has said he wants to be a doctor.