SK Yong Peng Clinches Third Straight Johor Choral Speaking Title

KLUANG, Sept  16 (Bernama) -- Nearly three months of intensive preparation paid off for the Choral Speaking team of Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Yong Peng when they were crowned champions of the 2026 Johor State-level Choral Speaking competition yesterday, earning the school a place at the national-level contest in Putrajaya next month.

SK Yong Peng English teacher and team coach Nur Afiqah Zainal said the victory was particularly meaningful as it marked the school’s third consecutive state-level title, with the team now aiming to repeat its national-level triumph last year.

She said the team, performing under the theme United Voices Resounding Peace, had been training since June, with the selection process focusing on students who demonstrated strong talent and a genuine interest in English-language speaking.

“Our previous successes as Johor state champions in 2024 and 2025, followed by our national-level victory in 2025, have enabled us to introduce a mentor-mentee programme to nurture a new generation of performers, with senior students helping to train their juniors.

“This achievement also demonstrates that rural schools are not left behind and are equally capable of competing in English at a high level alongside urban schools,” she told Bernama after the competition at SJK (C) Chong Hwa here.

According to Nur Afiqah, training primary school pupils presented different challenges as coaches had to manage students with varying personalities and temperaments, unlike secondary school students, who tend to be more independent and driven by a stronger competitive spirit.

“This success would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of our co-coach, Batu Pahat District Education Officer Hanif Nor Azahar, and Yong Peng Assemblyman Ling Tian Soon, both of whom have given us tremendous encouragement,” she said.

Meanwhile, 12-year-old Nurqisya Irdina Mazlan said this was her third year participating in the competition and the third time she had helped SK Yong Peng secure the Johor state championship.

“Although this is my final year representing the school in this competition, I am still enthusiastic and plan to continue participating when I enter secondary school next year,” she said.

At the 2026 Johor State-level Choral Speaking Competition, jointly organised by the Johor State Education Department (JPNJ), JCorp Foundation and ZUS Coffee, SK Perempuan Sultan Ibrahim, Johor Bahru, finished second in the primary school category, while SK Abdul Rahman Yassin, Kluang, took third place.

In the secondary school category, SMK Yong Peng, Batu Pahat, emerged as champions, followed by SMK Ungku Hussin, Mersing, in second place and SMK Tinggi Kluang in third.

--BERNAMA