Kota Kinabalu: Visual impairment did not stop a student from Keningau, Alexzander Dinus, from achieving outstanding result in the 2025 Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) examination.
Alexzander, 18, who scored 8As, said nerve problems affecting his eyes and brain have caused blurred vision since childhood, but the condition never weakened his determination to continue studying.
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“Sometimes I see triple images. If the teacher writes on the board in front of the class, it is difficult for me to see.
“Every day I study by asking for help from teachers and friends. Sometimes even when the teacher writes, I still cannot see clearly.
“But because our teachers are kind-hearted, they patiently teach me until I understand,” he said when met by the media during the 2025 SPM and STAM Excellence Awards Ceremony, here, on Thursday.
The eldest of five siblings said his achievement has motivated him to pursue his dream of becoming an educator and that he hopes to further his studies at the Institute of Teacher Education (IPG).
“I want to become an excellent teacher to produce excellent students. I will keep striving and compete with other students.
“My advice to those who are in the same situation as me is: Never give up. We may have shortcomings, but that does not mean we are weak,” he explained.
His father, Panis Guntalib, said his family accepted Alexzander’s condition after making various efforts to seek treatment since he was young.
“We accept it as fate. What matters most is that he continues learning and remains confident in himself.
“To parents who have special children like this, continue giving them support and encouragement,” he said.
Another award recipient, Muhammad Zahin Asyraaf Irwan, who also achieved 8As, said discipline and time management were the keys to his success.
He said although he was active in sports and co-curricular activities, he always made sure to manage his study time well.
“I represented the school in football, athletics and cross-country running. I also took part in the Qiraatus Sabie Bit Tarannum competition, which involves melodic Quranic recitation with various styles of reading.
“One tip I can share is that when studying, stay away from distractions such as mobile phones, and we must plan our time properly so that learning becomes more effective,” he added.
Like Alexzander, Zahin also aspires to become a teacher and plans to further his studies in Jordan.
