13 Kolej Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah students score straight As in SPM 2025

KUCHING (April 1): Thirteen students from Kolej Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah here achieved straight As in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2025 examination, said its principal Adzuddin Mantrang.

In his speech during the results announcement yesterday, he described this achievement as a testament to the students’ hard work, the dedication of teachers, and support from parents.

Among the top scorers was Kathleen Aran Lawai, the youngest of three siblings from Kuching, who obtained 8A+ and 1A.

She received her results with her father Lawai Anyi, 53, and her mother Veronica Chakoi, 51.

“I did not expect to achieve straight As despite having obtained similar results in my SPM trial examination, so I was nervous the night before the results were released.

“Each subject had its own challenges, especially Additional Mathematics. I spent a lot of time studying on my own through YouTube and TikTok Live,” said the Science stream student.

She added that Biology was her favourite subject, but also her most challenging, which prompted her to frequently seek help from teachers and friends whenever she had difficulties.

“Looking ahead, I hope to pursue Chemical Engineering, as I have a strong interest in Chemistry. I also plan to further my studies within Sarawak,” she said.

Lawai said he was grateful for his “academically excellent” daughter’s achievement.

“As parents, we should set a good example. I never pressured my children and allowed them to choose their own interests. I hope Kathleen will continue her studies to a higher level,” he said.

Her mother Veronica said she always trusted Kathleen to manage herself well, and described her as disciplined and easy to take care of.

“As a mother, I believe she is capable of managing herself, and has been disciplined from a young age. She is a good child, and easy to take care of. I hold high hopes for her, and want her to pursue higher education too,” she said.

Meanwhile, Amirul Afif Abdul Razak’s straight As (3A+, 4A and 1A-) came as a surprise to him.

“Biology is my favourite subject. I tend to feel lazy studying at home, so I make sure I fully focus during lessons in class and only complete homework at home,” he said.

He added that early preparation before examinations, as well as strong support from his parents, teachers and family contributed to his success.

Amirul plans to pursue a foundation programme before continuing his degree at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) with an interest in biomedical engineering.

“My biggest challenge was balancing academics and sports as I was involved actively in rugby and athletics.

“I had to manage my time well. During the examination period, I temporarily stopped sports to focus on my studies,” he said, adding that he only obtained three As in his trial examinations.

Meanwhile, twins Ethan Ngumbang Robin and Adriel Rebu Robin also recorded commendable results, with Ethan scoring 8As and 1B (4A+, 3A, 1A- and 1B+) while his elder brother Adriel obtained straight As (4A+, 4A- and 1A-).

Adriel said that despite being twins, they did not study together as they had different study preferences.

“Ethan prefers studying at night, while I prefer the morning. I am interested in Physics and hope to pursue engineering or a physics degree. I also plan to apply for scholarships to further my studies abroad,” he said.

He added that he faced a challenge when he fell ill with influenza a few days before his oral test, but still managed to sit for the examination.

For Ethan, he said he hopes to remain close to his parents if he pursues further studies and is open to enrolling in a local university.

“My main focus was to stay disciplined and take care of my health throughout the examination period. After receiving my result, I am interested in exploring other fields such as medicine and education,” he said.

On Tuesday, the Sarawak State Education Department (JPNS) reported that a total of 36,840 students were registered as SPM candidates this year, comprising students from schools under the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), government agency schools, Sekolah Menengah Agama Rakyat, as well as private and independent schools.

Of the total, there were 34,166 candidates under the MOE with 33,519 candidates sat for the examination, while 647 were absent.

Overall, a total of 853 candidates achieved excellent results (A+, A and A-) representing 2.54 per cent, while 31,506 candidates or 93.99 per cent obtained the minimum requirement for certification, which includes a pass in Bahasa Melayu and History.

Meanwhile, for candidates with special educational needs this year, 32 had physical disabilities, two had multiple disabilities, 12 had hearing impairments, 10 were visually impaired (blind) and 17 were visually impaired (low vision).