KUALA TERENGGANU: Ten-year-old Iman Hariz got it right the second year around as he won the Terengganu title at the RHB-New Straits Times National Spell-It-Right Challenge at the Permai Hotel in Batu Burok.
Iman, a Standard Four pupil of SK Rantau Petronas, correctly spelt the word 'decalcomania' in the final stage to beat 10 others and pocket the top prize of RM2,000.
"I have to thank my teacher Sharifah Sidah Syed Hassan for guiding me to win this year, after I failed to make the final last year in my first attempt.
"She was instrumental in giving me and my fellow students special classes with a spelling list, five days a week and the effort worked," said Iman, the eldest of four sons of Petronas senior managers Mohd Shahrizal Jasmani and Maziyatul Hana Arawi.
Mohd Shahrizal said his son deserved to win as he was a determined student.
"I am obviously very proud of him and thank all those, including his teacher, the sponsors and organisers for his triumph. These were the lot who guided and gave Iman the opportunity to succeed," said Mohd Shahrizal.
SK Sri Budiman student Amir Hamzah, 10, was placed second to win RM1,500, while SK Sultan Sulaiman students Ahmad Farhan Ahmad and Choo E-Lynn were placed third and fourth to win RM1,000 and RM800 each, respectively.
Muhammad Amir Rafiq Mohd Fafee of SK Chukai was fifth to earn RM500.
Five others won consolation prizes of RM100 each. A total of 99 students took part in the challenge.
Prizes were given out by RHB East Coast Area Two business support manager Wan Maznah Wan Yusof and Media Prima auditor Mohammad Shahrizwan Zainal Abu Bakar.