21/02/2026

SATURDAY | FEB 21, 2026

COMMUNITY 7

Chevening scholars return from transformative experience in UK

o Brimming with new skills, knowledge and

the Q-Dees pre-school where he is enrolled recorded the feat on video. The recording was sent with an application to KBR on Dec 30 last year. The organisation, that is headquartered in India, vetted and passed the entry. The family received the recognition certificate and trophy through mail from KBR on Feb 14. Venoth, a police officer from Bagan Datuk, said his family members are proud of Sharviin’s extraordinary feat. “His achievement is now on the international stage and has opened the eyes of the world.” KBR praised Shaviin’s achievement as an inspiration for children around the world, proving that age is no barrier to excellence. “His record encourages parents and educators to nurture curiosity, memory skills and global awareness in children, turning learning into a joyful and rewarding journey,” it said on its website. KBR is a global organisation that verifies and celebrates unique achievements and talents of children aged between four and 16. KOTA KINABALU: Quality and hygiene in food preparation must be prioritised, especially for aspiring traders operating during the month of Ramadan. This emphasis was highlighted by Merdiline Albaris, the wife of Sungai Manila state assemblyman Hazem Mubarak Musa, while officiating at a training course for food handlers in Rancangan Sungai Manila, Sandakan, which was attended by 100 women traders and hawkers recently. “The appeal of food is not solely based on its taste, but also on its quality. Quality complements the flavour of the dishes served and is crucial to prioritise,“ she said. She stressed that food quality depends not only on cleanliness but also on the ingredients used in preparation. “A clean food premise or stall is certainly attractive, but it becomes even more appealing if the food itself is of high quality. The quality of food enhances its overall appeal,“ she said. Merdiline expressed hope that participants would apply the knowledge gained towards producing higher quality food for their customers. The two-day course, held on Feb 7 and 8, was organised by FB Training Academy and conducted in series. The first series took place on Feb 7 with two sessions involving 50 participants, while the second was held on Feb 8 and included a certificate presentation ceremony for participants. Ramadan food handler training emphasises quality Ű BY JOSHUA CHANG newsdesk@thesundaily.com Merdiline (2nd left) presenting a certificate to a participant of the course.

global networks, group yearning to make meaningful contributions

KUALA LUMPUR: The British High Commission recently feted 31 Malaysians who returned home after completing their postgraduate studies in the UK under the Chevening Awards Programme. The 2024/25 cohort of scholars graduated from disciplines such as governance, development and public policy, legal and constitutional studies, autism studies, and sustainable resources, among others. They gathered at a reception on Feb 12 hosted by Deputy High Commissioner David Wallace, who described the deep tradition of academic and research excellence among UK universities. “I am pleased to see top Malaysian scholars choosing UK education, and returning to Malaysia with new skills, knowledge and global networks that would enable them to make meaningful contributions in Malaysia,” he said. Scholar Dr Ardif Damiri, who graduated in Global Health Policy from the University of Edinburgh, characterised experiencing the UK’s inclusive infrastructure as a “lightbulb moment”. He praised the seamless wheelchair access on buses and walkable cities. “Abundant, accessible green spaces showed me that mobility

Wallace (seated, centre) with the enthusiastic awardees who have much to share after completing their postgraduate academic programmes. – PIC COURTESY OF BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION KL

IPOH: A seven-year-old boy from Kampar has wowed the public and his neighbours with a remarkable talent for recognising national flags and naming the countries they belong to within the shortest time, earning him a place in the Kids Book of Records (KBR). V. Shaviin recently made history with his lightning-fast flag identification. The prodigy accurately identified 65 flags within one minute and 14 seconds, creating a world record for his age. According to Malim Nawar state assemblywoman V. Bavani, Shaviin’s parents had in the beginning casually shown him flags of countries on television as simple entertainment. “As days passed, they saw that the boy had managed to memorise and identify the flags with extreme swiftness. They realised how special the feat was. “I saw his skills with my own eyes when I visited him on Feb 17,” she said in an interview with theSun . Shaviin’s father Venoth Darmalingam, mother Mohanavalli Bala Krishnan and challenged me to listen deeply, communicate clearly and engage with differing perspectives with empathy. “These experiences have shaped how I collaborate and lead. Today, I continue to draw inspiration and guidance from the Chevening network, valuing it as a source of mentorship and cross-border collaboration.” The Chevening Scholarship Programme in Malaysia started in 1983. It is complemented by sponsorships from Malaysian partners, including Yayasan Khazanah, CIMB Foundation, the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation and Petronas. British universities also provide additional funding in support of the programme.

Suzanne Ling, who pursued Migration and Diaspora Studies in SOAS, University of London, said: “My Chevening year strengthened my policy, research and advocacy skills while expanding my global network in the area of migration. “Returning to Malaysia, I now apply these skills at PichaEats and through volunteering with a parliamentary select committee to advance refugees’ basic rights in Malaysia.” Reyshma Selva, who graduated in Human Computer Interaction at the University of St Andrews, said her year in the UK was a transformative personal journey that strengthened her confidence, independence and global outlook. “Living and studying alongside people from diverse cultures

and nature are rights, not privileges; proving that urban design is a moral choice,” he said. “This shifted my perspective and shaped my growth in advocacy and empathy. It taught me that achieving societal success means integrating and valuing our underserved populations, ensuring no one is left behind.” The Chevening Award is the UK government’s global scholarship programme, funded and administered by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Malaysia is currently the second largest recipient of Chevening awards in Asean. The 31 returning scholars are now part of the 2,000-strong Chevening Alumni in Malaysia.

Young prodigy creates record with flag-naming talent Ű P.CHANDRA SAGARAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Shaviin with the certificate and trophy from Kids Book of Records.

Bavani interacting with Shaviin as he correctly identifies flags shown to him.