KUALA LUMPUR: A 14-year-old boy's bravery in saving his friend from an electric shock on Oct 2 earned him the Hang Tuah Medal Award at the 2024 National Children's Day celebration held today.
Muhammad Asri Rosli said he felt excited, happy, and touched upon receiving the award.
Recalling the incident, he explained that he was playing sepak takraw with his friend at their secondary school in Bukit Beruntung, Selangor when he saw his friend trembling while holding onto a metal object.
"I pulled him several times before his hand let go of the metal. After that, I immediately hugged him and felt an electric current running through his body.
"I rushed him to the physical education teacher's room," he said during the event at the World Trade Centre (WTC) in Kuala Lumpur today.
Meanwhile, his mother, Zuraini Harun, 49, expressed pride in her son's actions.
"He is the sixth of eight siblings and was born as part of a set of triplets. Of the three, he is the one who often sacrifices the most and is the smartest.
"What he did (saving his friend) makes us very proud," she said.
Muhammad Asri received RM5,000 in cash, a certificate of appreciation, and a trophy for his bravery.
Aayushi Yeogeswaran, 8, a young book author, was awarded the Special Children's Award at the same event.
Aayushi shared that she was inspired to become a writer at the age of four.
"Initially, my parents read books to me. When I was four, I started reading books myself, and since then, I've read about 3,000 books."
She has written four books in English and is in the process of publishing a new book on Dec 2.
Aayushi's mother, C. Devagi, 34, said they supported their daughter's reading habits from a young age.
"We saw her reading at four years old, so we bought her many books, especially factual ones. We will always support her dreams, including her aspirations to be a teacher and a writer," she added.
The event saw the announcement of seven awards, including the Hang Tuah Medal Award, the Special Children's Award, the Academic Excellence Award, the Cultural and Artistic Excellence Award, the OKU Excellence Award, the Sports Excellence Award, and the Special NGO Children's Award.
The event was officiated by the prime minister's wife and Bandar Tun Razak member of parliament Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.