SEARCH FOR THREE QUIZ WHIZ KIDS

KUCHING (Malaysia), Feb 24 (Bernama) -- A nationwide search has been launched for three quiz whiz kids who are knowledgeable on Asean issues.

The trio, who must be government secondary school students aged 16 to 19,
will be chosen in the finals in May.

The winners will represent the country at the Asean Quiz final in the
Philippines in September.

The road to the Philippines starts on March 25, where the state-level Asean
Quiz will be held simultaneously, using a set of questions (objective and
'True' or 'False'), through online.

The top 15 contestants will feature in the semi-final in May, before the
best five move to the national-level final.

Students of government secondary schools, as well as Mara Science Junior
Colleges (MRSM) from the 15 states, including the Federal Territories of Kuala
Lumpur/Putrajaya and Labuan, are invited to join the quiz.

Contestants should be prepared to answer 40 objective questions and 10
'True' or 'False' questions in an hour, on issues pertaining to Asean and its
member countries.

The issues include topics like politics, economics, social, culture and
arts, tourism, history and sports.

East Malaysia state of Sarawak Information Department deputy director
Sharifah Mariam Syed Dawilah invited students in the state to take part in the
biennial programme under the Asean Committee on Culture and Information
(ASEAN-COCI).

Chairing the co-ordination meeting of the state-level 'Asean Quiz 2009' here
today, she said 10 students from each school equipped with computer laboratories
were eligible to take part in the competition.

Organised by the information department, in collaboration with the education
ministry, Sharifah Mariam said the fourth Asean Quiz themed, 'Shared Vision and
Identity', was aimed at enhancing a participant's knowledge of Asean affairs and
expose them to the cultural, political, economic and social aspects of Asean.
-- BERNAMA