How one teacher helped Weuy Liang find his voice in Malay

KUALA LUMPUR: Weuy Liang, now a 20-year-old international relations student at Peking University, owes his journey from a shy pupil to a confident speaker and poet to his longtime mentor, Hafezi Abdul Hamid. When Weuy first began Malay coaching at age ten, he understood almost nothing and often forgot his speech text on stage. His teacher, however, never gave up on him.

Hafezi invited Weuy to his coaching sessions twice a week in Year Four, focusing on pronunciation, public speaking, and vocabulary. Over nearly a decade, Weuy's relationship with his teacher evolved beyond a teacher-pupil dynamic into something more akin to family. Hafezi advised Weuy to develop his own style, finding and building his identity in public speaking.

Weuy's dedication paid off when he won the Prime Minister’s Unity Cup Speech Competition in 2018, followed by victories in the International Malay Language Poetry Recitation Competition and the Education Malaysia Jordan International Public Speaking Competition. Alongside his success, Weuy's love for the Malay language grew, prompting him to read Malay-language magazines, use dictionaries extensively, and even write his first poem at age 12.

Today, Weuy continues to make space for Malay despite living thousands of miles away from home. He has recited poetry in China and dreams of bringing the language to a global audience. He believes that to ensure the Malay language's survival, awareness and love are crucial.