Despite losing her sight at 13, Loh Wee Han earned a 3.84 CGPA in STPM 2025, proving physical barriers are no obstacle to success.
GEORGE TOWN: Losing her sight at the age of 13 was not the end of Loh Wee Han’s dreams but the beginning of an extraordinary journey marked by resilience and determination, culminating in the 21-year-old attaining a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.84 in the 2025 Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination results announced today.
The Nibong Tebal native proved that physical limitations are no barrier to success. As a Special Educational Needs (BPK) candidate in the visually impaired category, she chose not to let the loss of her sight define her, but to rise above the life-changing setback.
Loh, a former student of Kolej Tingkatan Enam Haji Zainul Abidin, said she was not born visually impaired. However, while in Form One, increased pressure in her eyes damaged her optic nerves, causing her eyesight to deteriorate progressively until she eventually lost her vision completely.
“My eyesight gradually worsened and became increasingly blurred. Doctors told me that my optic nerves had been damaged and that the condition was irreversible. I had to put my schooling on hold for a year to undergo treatment before returning to continue my studies in Form One,” she said when met at the college here today.
Adding to the challenge, she had to relearn how to study through Braille – an entirely unfamiliar world to her at the time.
“The process was far from easy because I used to study like any other student, and learning Braille was extremely challenging. I had to adapt to an entirely new way of learning. In the beginning, it was difficult as I had to feel every letter with my fingers, and it took me almost two years to become truly proficient,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Loh said she chose to rent a house by herself near the school to facilitate her studies, describing the sacrifice as one that allowed her to focus fully on her education while sparing her the difficulties of commuting from her hometown in Nibong Tebal.
She said the unwavering support of her family, teachers and friends had been her greatest source of strength, inspiring her to pursue further studies in special education. She hopes to become a teacher and help more students facing challenges similar to her own.
Meanwhile, Haqimi Haykal Khalil, 20, the son of Penang Bureau Bernama TV cameraman Khalil Daud, proved that caring for his ailing mother for almost a year did not stand in the way of academic excellence, as he achieved a commendable CGPA of 3.75.
The social science student admitted that he had never imagined he would achieve such results, having initially set himself more modest expectations because of the challenges he faced throughout his studies.
“This success did not come through pressure, but through self-discipline, consistent study and maintaining a balance between academics and daily life,” he said.
Fueled by a deep interest in the media industry cultivated since childhood through accompanying his father on assignments, Haqimi Haykal plans to pursue communication studies at USM.
Also drawing attention was the achievement of K. Risshi, 20, the son of a lorry driver, who attained a CGPA of 3.85 in the STPM examination, proving that one’s background is no barrier to excellence.
Risshi, the second of three siblings, is the son of lorry driver K. Kalamegam, 50, and homemaker A. Suganthi, 45. He now hopes to further his studies in Nautical Science after attending an interview session at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), driven by his keen interest in the industry.
“Time must be used wisely because every effort made today will determine future success. I hope to further my studies in Nautical Science and eventually build a career in the maritime sector,” he said.
Earlier, Penang Education Department (JPN) deputy director (Planning and Management) Mohamad Zawawi Ahmad said the state’s performance in the 2025 STPM examination had made history, with the state CGPA rising to 2.99 from 2.96 the previous year, marking the highest achievement since the examination was introduced.
He said 90 candidates obtained a perfect CGPA of 4.00, accounting for 5.80% compared with 5.59% in 2024. Meanwhile, 161 candidates (10.38%) recorded a CGPA of 3.75 and above, while 605 candidates (38.98%) achieved a CGPA ranging from 3.00 to 3.74.
