KOTA KINABALU: Four young local talents emerged as champions at the Borneo Got Talent and Performing Arts 2026 competition held here recently.
The winners were Muhlis Husrev (Singing) representing Kota Kinabalu, Siti Nur Fatin Pehan (Dancing) from Pulau Banggi, Kudat, Mohammad Ashraf (Unique Talent) from Beaufort, and Nur Ratu Mia Adriana (Project Runway – Group Work) representing Likas, Kota Kinabalu.
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Organised by the School Management Board together with SM Lok Yuk Kota Kinabalu (CF), the programme aimed to showcase youth talent in stage performance while raising funds for the school’s facilities development.
About 1,000 spectators attended the event, with thousands more following it via live streaming.
The event was enlivened by a special performance from professional singer Daniesh Suffian, an alumnus of SM Lok Yuk Kota Kinabalu (CF), who shared his experience of taking part in similar competitions before performing his songs “Akhirnya Kamu” and “Nothing Gonna Change My Love For You”.
Chief judge Esther Applunius expressed full support for the school’s efforts to provide space for youths to explore their potential, particularly with the backing of principal Thein Nyuk Kong and School Management Board chairman Jimmy Chu.
Second judge Rhowell Rolland advised participants not to fear appearing on stage, saying the courage to try was already a major achievement.
Third judge Dennis Patrick, who is also TV Sabah director, said TV Sabah served as a strategic partner to ensure the competition reached more youths as a source of inspiration.
Guest judges from Yuhan University, Korea, Hyungjoo Kim and Daroon Bong, said they were surprised by and praised the talents of Borneo youths, describing the performance standards as comparable to Korean university students.
State-level competition coordinator Walter Misir thanked district coordinators Jeslyn Lau (Kota Kinabalu), Leon Dison (Penampang), Juan Richo (Kudat) and Elizabeth Jipanis (Likas, Kota Kinabalu), and encouraged others to become coordinators for next year’s edition.
