MAKKAH: Young haj pilgrim Muhammad Ameer Che Noor Azam, 18, achieved 9As in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2023 examination last year.
The teenager, who attends Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Puchong Utama 1, is currently performing the haj with his father, Che Noor Azam Osman, 63, mother, Kamsiah Mohd Kontol, 51, and younger brother, Muhammad Ammar, 17.
He received his SPM results shortly after dawn, yesterday.
"When I was in Raudah, I prayed to get the best results for myself and my friends. Alhamdulillah God answered my prayers," said Muhammad Ameer, who aspires to continue his studies abroad.
The former prefect said his studies had declined during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he was in Form Four, as he was too complacent.
"When I was in Form Four, we had just got over Covid-19. At that time, I had to motivate myself to study again because during the Movement Control Order we only had online classes and I felt that I was less focused.
"When I came to my senses, I looked back and felt that I needed to change. I went to my friend, Soo Shi Jian and he helped me, teaching me and motivating me to reach his level.
`The eldest of the three siblings, who practices flexible learning to avoid stress, received A+ results in English, Islamic Education, History, Mathematics and Physics, in addition to A- in Malay and A in Additional Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology.
His younger brother, Muhammad Ammar, who is a Form Five student of the same school, is determined to compete with his brother and study harder because during the pandemic he could not complete his studies while studying in a religious school.
"Now I am going back to the national school which I consider very challenging because I have to catch up on the subjects I missed," said Muhammad Ammar, sharing his brother's happiness.