Fishermen’s children rewarded for academic excellence

Published by Arnold Loh • 08/11/2025

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow says its Silicon Island project aims to draw RM74.7 billion in investments and add RM1.1 trillion to Malaysia’s GDP by 2050, creating over 220,000 jobs. – NSTP pic

FOR Ang En Yang, the RM500 award he brought home was more than a prize; it was a reward for long nights of study.

The son of a fisherman who has spent over three decades earning an income off Penang’s Teluk Kumbar, En Yang is pursuing a Diploma in Accounting at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT)

He was among 12 children of fishermen who received the Higher Education Admission and Excellence Awards from Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd (SIDSB) during a Deepavali celebration at the Fishermen’s Service Centre in Permatang Damar Laut.

The awards, worth between RM500 and RM1,000, were presented under SIDSB’s Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) to encourage students from fishing families to pursue higher education.

Another recipient, Muhammad Sufi Ammar, received the Higher Education Admission Award for his diploma studies at Balik Pulau Vocational College, while his sister Nur Afiqah Ammar received the Excellence Award for completing her education degree at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Their father, Ammar Ismail, from Pulau Betong, said his children’s success was the family’s greatest gift.

Five fishermen from the southern coast of Penang island were also given food baskets in conjunction with the festival.

Penang Infrastructure Corporation chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus praised the initiative as a reflection of the state’s multiracial harmony and the importance of education.

He said Silicon Island, the first of three islands under the Penang South Islands (PSI) project, was designed to be a low-carbon, future-ready smart city featuring industrial, commercial and residential zones.

“Projects like PSI are not only about physical development but also about building communities through education and opportunity.

“Education is vital and a child’s success is the best investment any parent can make,” he added.