News Room

National Spelling Competition is Back!

Kuala Lumpur, 5 May 2010

For the third consecutive year, the RHB Banking Group and the News Straits Times Press (M) Berhad launched the RHB-NST Spell-It-Right (‘SIR”) Challenge 2010 today.

The ceremony, which took place at RHB Centre, was graced by YBhg. Dato’ Zainul Ariffin Mohamed Isa, Group Managing Editor of The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad and Dato' Tajuddin Atan, Group Managing Director of the RHB Banking Group. Also present at the event were the management of RHB and NSTP.

Following the success of the previous two seasons of the SIR, this year’s not only will further foster the English language proficiency among young Malaysians, but also promote the usage of the newspaper as an educational tool. With the endorsement of the Ministry of Education, it is hoped that SIR will attract more students to participate in this year’s challenge as their participation will gain them merit in the extra-curricular. This, we hope, will create meaningful and competitive interest to master the language.

“Apart from SIR being a Corporate Responsibility initiative for both RHB and NST, we see this as an investment – a contribution to the future generation, as they are the leaders of tomorrow. For as long as efforts are still being made to improve the standard of English and encourage quality education, the RHB Banking Group will be right there to take them on, which is why we’re still doing this for the third year running,” said Dato’ Tajuddin Atan.

Jointly organized by the RHB Banking Group and the News Straits Times, this spelling competition will kick start its nationwide State Challenge in Kelantan on May 7 and 8 and will end concurrently at 2 venues on July 17 and 18, 2010 in Perlis and Johor. This year, in an effort to recognise participant's achievement, the top five spellers will be rewarded cash prizes for both state and national challenges.

The state champion and runner-up in the primary school category will receive cash prize RM2,000 and RM1,500 respectively, while the second runner-up will get RM1,000 followed by fourth and fifth place, RM800 and RM500.

For the secondary schools category, the state champion and runner-up win cash prize RM3,000 and RM2,500. Second runner-up, RM2,000 and fourth and fifth place will  receive RM1,500 and RM1,000.   

All the fourteen states' champions, for both primary and secondary categories will compete for the National Champion title at Kuala Lumpur on August 7, 2010. The national champion and runner-up in the primary schools category will receive cash prize  RM10,000 and RM5,000 respectively, while the second runner-up get RM4,000.00. Fourth place (RM3,000) and fifth placing will get RM2,000.

For the secondary school category, the national champion and runner-up win prizes RM15,000 and RM10,000 respectively, while the second runner-up get RM8,000 fourth and fifth place gets RM5,000 and RM3,000.  The winning school (first prize winner only) for both categories will bring home the Challenge Trophy.

Entry forms are available in the New Straits Times from April 29, 2009 until May 21, 2010. Students can also visit www.nst.com.my/SIR for more information on the challenge.

Eza Dzul Karnain, Group Corporate Communications, RHB Banking Group Tel: 03-9280 2552 Leslie N. Jebaretnam, NST Brand Unit, NSTP Tel:016-3233537 Marfiza Mahamud, Corporate Communications Unit, NSTP Tel:012-3829124

About the RHB Banking Group

The RHB Banking Group is the fourth largest fully integrated financial services group in Malaysia. The Group’s core businesses are streamlined into four Strategic Business Groups (SBGs): Retail Banking, Corporate & Investment Banking, Islamic Banking and International Banking. These businesses are offered through its main subsidiaries – RHB Bank Berhad, RHB Investment Bank Berhad, RHB Insurance Berhad and RHB Islamic Bank Berhad, while its asset management and unit trust businesses are held under RHB Investment Management Berhad. RHB’s International Banking Division include the commercial banking operations in Singapore, Thailand and Brunei. The Group also has a non-ringgit based offshore funding operations in Labuan as well as a representative office in Vietnam. It is the RHB Banking Group’s aspiration to deliver superior customer experience and shareholder value; and be recognised as one of the top financial services groups in ASEAN.

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