First day of SPM runs smoothly

According to a statement by the education ministry's examination board, of the total, 400,351 were candidates from government schools, government-aided schools and government-funded Islamic religious schools.

A total of 8,241 candidates are from schools under government agencies other than the ministry while 7,957 are from state religious secondary schools; 12,066 are candidates from private schools registered under the ministry while 25,701 are private candidates and 1,523, from community religious secondary schools.

A Bernama check at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Kiaramas here found all candidates had come early to avoid any delay, and prayers were recited before the examination.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Education Minister, spent about an hour observing the SPM examination at the school.

In IPOH, 41,290 candidates sat for the SPM examination across Perak and of the total, 2,141 are private candidates and 49 are candidates with special needs, said state education department director Mohd Idris Ramli.

"We target Perak to be among the top five states in the SPM," he told reporters at SMK Anderson yesterday.

He said there were 347 examination centres, including 38 private centres, in addition to schools throughout Perak.

In KUALA TERENGGANU, 21,754 SPM candidates sat for the examination at 183 examination centres across the state.

Terengganu Education deputy director, Hashim Mohd Zin said of the total, 20,198 candidates were from government schools, 665 from the Mara Junior Science College (MRSM), 69 candidates from the state religious schools, 37 from private schools and 785 private candidates.

Kuala Terengganu district recorded the highest number of candidates, namely 7,495, with 56 examination centres followed by Besut with 3,459 candidates (27), Kemaman 2,828 candidates (26), Dungun 2,763 candidates (24), Marang 2,052 candidates (19), Hulu Terengganu 1,785 candidates (17) and Setiu 1,372 candidates at 14 centres.

In SEREMBAN, Negeri Sembilan education director Datuk Kalsom Khalid said a total of 18,619 candidates sat for the SPM examination at 147 examination centres across the state.

She said of the total, 17,747 were government school candidates, 872 were private candidates, while one candidate was taking the examination from the hospital.

"There are 1,075 invigilators at the schools and 12 invigilators on standby at the hospital. Rigorous standard operating procedures (SOPs) are being observed to avoid any leakage of the question papers.

"A disaster operations room is also available, in the event of flood," she told reporters during a tour of SMK Dato' Shahardin in Labu.

In KUCHING, a total of 37,488 candidates sat for the SPM examination at 270 examination centres statewide, according to state education director Serina Sauni.

She said of the total, 34,833 or 92.92 percent were candidates from the SMKs, 815 (17.2 percent) from private secondary schools and 1,840 (4.91 percent) were private candidates.

Serina said a total of 168 area supervisors and 2,190 invigilators had been appointed to handle the SPM examination in Sarawak this year.

In PENANG, 24,259 candidates sat for the SPM at 199 examination centres across the state.

State education director Datuk Osman Hussain said of the total, 1,474 were private candidates.

"The examination today (Monday) went smoothly, with all candidates sitting for the examination, including those who sat for it in hospitals.

"Fourteen examination centres were opened in private and government hospitals and some officers were sent to supervise," he said.

In KEDAH, 36,526 students sat for the SPM examination at 280 centres.

State education, transportation and works committee chairman Datuk Tajul Urus Mat Zain said of the total, 31,641 candidates were from government schools, 1,039 candidates from schools under government agencies and 826 candidates from state-funded religious schools.

Reportedly, 1,017 of the candidates were from People's Religious Schools, 325 were from private schools and 1,678 were private candidates. In addition, there were 79 candidates with special needs.

"Eight candidates from the Sekolah Integriti Penjara Sungai Petani also sat for the examination in a hospital," he told reporters at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College in Alor Setar yesterday.

In KOTA BARU, 34,025 candidates sat for the SPM in 307 examination centres across Kelantan.

Kelantan education director Hussain Awang said of the total, 25,897 were government school candidates, 4,866 were candidates from Yayasan Islam Kelantan, 2,098 were private candidates, 801 from MRSM, 253 from government-funded religious schools and 110 private school candidates.

"Three candidates sat for the examination at Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II and there were also 17 candidates with special needs," he told reporters after visiting SMK Padang Enggang yesterday.

On flood concerns due to the current monsoon season, Hussain requested all school heads to follow the guidelines for 'Operation Payung' throughout the examination.

"We have identified examination centres at risk of flooding and advised candidates to stay at school hostels, or at relatives' homes near the examination centre," he said.

In JOHOR, a total of 54,673 candidates sat for the SPM at 389 examination centres, with 48,692 candidates coming from government schools, 3,086 candidates from private schools and 790 candidates from MRSM, said state education department director Aminuddin Adam.

He said this year, 12 detainee candidates from Sekolah Menengah Integriti, Kluang, also sat for the SPM, as well as 13 candidates from Sekolah Menengah Integriti, Muar. All were private candidates.

A total of 292 public and private schools were involved in the examination this year, with 3,448 officers appointed to ensure the smooth process of the examination.

According to Aminuddin, 113 candidates with special needs sat for the SPM in Johor, with the assistance of teachers who have expertise in handling special needs candidates.

In MALACCA, of the 15,113 candidates who sat for the SPM, eight took the examination in the hospital.

State Education, Higher Education, Science and Technology, Green Technology and Innovation executive councillor, Datuk Md Yunos Husin said of the total 13,226 candidates, 747 were from the education ministry, MRSM, 126 from private schools and 1,014 private candidates.

All the candidates, including 25 with special needs, sat for the SPM at 111 examination centres under the supervision of 836 appointed supervisors, he said after a visit to SMK Tun Mutahir in Batu Berendam yesterday.

In SABAH, state education department director Datuk Jame Alip advised the invigilators to continue to maintain high integrity to ensure the examination went smoothly.

"It's the first day of SPM in all the states. In Sabah, there are 39,525 candidates sitting for the examination in 312 examination centres, including four sitting for the examination in hospital," he told reporters after a walkabout at SMK Badin in Tuaran yesterday.

In SHAH ALAM, 78,688 SPM candidates sat for the examination at 555 examination centres throughout Selangor.

Selangor education deputy director Mohd Salleh Mohd Kassim said of the total, 71,804 were from government schools, 2,480 from private schools and 4,404 were private candidates.

In KUANTAN, the SPM examination went on as usual despite the Pahang Government declaring Monday a holiday after the state football team retained the Malaysia Cup title last Saturday.

Education department director Rosdi Ismail said 23,323 candidates sat for the SPM at 260 examination centres.

He said of the total, 11 students took the examination in the hospital.

"The hospitals involved are Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan in Kuantan, Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah in Temerloh, and the Pekan Hospital," he said when contacted.

In KANGAR, 4,221 candidates, including 223 private candidates sat for the SPM in 36 centres statewide.

Perlis Education Department Assessment and Examination sector head, Azman Ghazali said of the total, 3,709 candidates were from government-aided schools, 154 from MRSM, 104 from private schools and 31 from religious schools.

He said there were four candidates taking the SPM at Hospital Tuanku Fauziah here, in addition to five candidates with special needs also sitting for the examination.

The Perlis Education Department was ready with contingency plans to deal with possible flooding, and the invigilators were briefed on what steps to take if disaster struck, he added.

In Labuan, 978 candidates sat for the SPM examination, with 905 from government schools, six from private schools and 67 private candidates.