AIA Malaysia celebrated 18 primary and secondary schools for their innovative student-led initiatives at the AIA Healthiest Schools Awards Ceremony, recognizing their efforts to enhance student wellbeing and foster positive change in school communities. The event marked the conclusion of the third edition of the AHS Competition, which, running from October 2025 to March 2026, attracted over 140 entries from various schools across the nation.
Participation in the AHS Competition has significantly grown since its launch in 2023, from 36 entries in its first year to 63 in 2025 and more than doubling in 2026. This momentum highlights the programme’s expanding impact and schools’ commitment to nurturing healthier learning environments.
A notable milestone was reached with the first winning entry from a Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJK(T)) school and recognition for a school in Sabah, showcasing the programme’s inclusive nationwide reach.
Winning schools were chosen by the AHS judging panel based on their project plans, involvement with teachers, students, and the community, overall effectiveness, and sustainability. The schools received a total of USD 100,000 (around RM 450,000) in prize money across the ‘Winner’ and ‘Highly Commended’ categories for primary and secondary schools.
In the primary school category, Sekolah Kebangsaan Manir in Terengganu won first place with its ‘Sihat Aktif Manirian (S.A.M)’ program. This school-wide initiative aims to tackle rising BMI levels and inactivity among its 658 students. It promotes daily healthy habits, with support from teachers, parents, and digital tools, encouraging students to take charge of their health through regular 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 took the lead with its ‘Harumanis Mango Cultivation Project’. This initiative helps students in the school’s Special Education Integration Programme learn practical agricultural skills through hands-on activities—from planting mango trees to harvesting and packaging. It boosts their confidence, encourages independence, and prepares them with useful skills for future jobs.
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 aims to help schools encourage healthy eating, active lifestyles, mental wellbeing, and sustainability for students aged five to 16. It offers free teaching materials in English, Bahasa Melayu, and Mandarin, along with structured modules and practical workshops to assist teachers in teaching health and wellbeing topics in the classroom.
Schools that want to register for the programme can find out more at https://ahs.aia.com/my/en, where teaching resources are also provided. The fourth edition of the AHS Competition will accept entries starting in October 2026.