Kuala Lumpur, 16 June 2026 – Outstanding student-led initiatives took centre stage today as AIA Malaysia recognised 18 primary and secondary schools at the AIA Healthiest Schools (AHS) Awards Ceremony, honouring their innovative and impactful efforts to promote student wellbeing and driving meaningful change within school communities.
This year’s awards ceremony marked the culmination of the third edition of the AHS Competition – a key highlight of the AHS programme. Held from October 2025 to March 2026, the competition received more than 140 entries from government, private and international schools nationwide.
Participation in the AHS Competition has grown significantly since the programme’s launch in 2023, increasing from 36 entries in its inaugural year to 63 in 2025 and more than doubling in 2026. This strong upward momentum reflects the programme’s expanding impact and the growing commitment of schools to building healthier, more supportive learning environments.
Notably, the competition marked a significant milestone with its first winning entry from a Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJK(T)) school, alongside recognition for a school in Sabah, signalling the programme’s broader, more inclusive nationwide reach.
Winning schools were selected by the AHS judging panel based on project scope and execution, level of engagement with teachers, students and the wider community, overall impact as well as long-term sustainability.
The schools received prize money totalling USD 100,000 (approximately RM 450,000) under the ‘Winner’ and ‘Highly Commended’ categories across primary and secondary school levels.
In the primary school category, Sekolah Kebangsaan Manir in Terengganu emerged as the first-place winner with its ‘Sihat Aktif Manirian (S.A.M)’ initiative, a school-wide, data-driven programme developed to address rising BMI levels and sedentary habits among its 658 pupils. The initiative cultivates daily, self-directed healthy routines, supported by teachers, parents and digital tools, encouraging students to take ownership of their health through consistent, everyday actions.
Primary School Category Winners
1st Place (USD 10,000 / RM 45,000) : Sekolah Kebangsaan Manir (Terengganu)
2nd Place (USD 7,500 / RM 33,700) : SJK(C) Pui Ying (Selangor)
3rd Place (USD 7,500 / RM 33,700) : SJK(T) Ladang Bukit Rajah (Selangor)
4th Place (USD 7,500 / RM 33,700) : SK Titi To’ Bandar (Perlis)
Highly Commended (USD 3,500 / RM 15,700 each)
- SK Beting Lintang (Terengganu)
- SK Putrajaya Presint 11(1) (Putrajaya)
- SJK (C) Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Selangor)
- Sekolah Kebangsaan Saujana Utama Ijok (Selangor)
- SK Mergong (Kedah)
Meanwhile, in the secondary school category, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sanglang in Perlis, clinched the top spot for its inspiring ‘Harumanis Mango Cultivation Project’. The initiative provides students enrolled in the school’s Special Education Integration Programme with practical agricultural skills through hands-on learning activities—from planting and nurturing mango trees to harvesting and packaging while strengthening their confidence, nurtures independence and equips them with valuable skills for future employment.
Secondary School Category Winners
1st Place (USD 10,000 / RM 45,000) : SMK Sanglang (Perlis)
2nd Place (USD 7,500 / RM 33,700) : SMK Bukit Kuching Tengah (Selangor)
3rd Place (USD 7,500 / RM 33,700) : SMK Puteri Ampang (Kuala Lumpur)
4th Place (USD 7,500 / RM 33,700) : SMK Tambunan (Sabah)
Highly Commended (USD 3,500 / RM 15,700 each)
- SMK Tok Dor (Terengganu)
- SMK Kuala Jenderis (Terengganu)
- SMK Seri Kundang (Selangor)
- SMK Rantau Panjang (Selangor)
- SMK Sultan Sulaiman Shah (Selangor)
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Malaysia, Heng Zee Wang said,
“Since its inception, the AIA Healthiest Schools programme has become one of our most inspiring community initiatives that empowers students to take charge of their wellbeing. It is especially encouraging to see healthy habits being embedded into everyday school life – not as one-off efforts, but as part of how students learn, interact and grow.
“This year’s incredible response in competition entries, together with first-time wins from SJK(T) and East Malaysia schools also reflects how the programme is reaching a broader and more diverse group of schools nationwide. We are proud that it continues to nurture creativity and teamwork, resulting in initiatives that deliver meaningful impact across school communities.”
The first-place winners, Sekolah Kebangsaan Manir and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sanglang, will go on to represent Malaysia at the AIA Healthiest Schools Regional Awards scheduled to take place this July in Bangkok, Thailand. Both schools will compete alongside winning schools from eight (8) other AIA markets: China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Sri Lanka.
“We are grateful for the commitment of all participating schools and the support of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, our education partner LeapEd, and panel of judges. Most of all, we applaud the teachers and students whose dedication drives these extraordinary efforts. As we continue to build on this momentum, we look forward to welcoming even more schools into the programme, so we can shape a more resilient future generation, empowering them to live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives,” added Zee Wang.
Endorsed by the Ministry of Education Malaysia, the AHS programme was introduced to empower schools to promote healthy eating, active lifestyles, mental wellbeing, and sustainability among students aged five (5) to 16.
The programme provides free teaching resources in English, Bahasa Melayu and Mandarin, as well as structured modules and hands-on workshops to help teachers effectively introduce health and wellbeing concepts in the classrooms.
Schools interested in registering for the programme can learn more at https://ahs.aia.com/my/en where teaching resources are also available. Submissions for the fourth edition of the AHS Competition will open in October 2026.