SJK (C) Min Sin marching teams shine with nine titles in 2025

WITH the school term drawing to a close, SJK (C) Min Sin held a recognition ceremony at its school hall today to honour its outstanding marching teams.

This year, the school achieved an impressive haul of nine championships, four runner-up titles, two third places and two fourth places across district, state, national and international competitions.

Principal Lim Yin Chao attributed the success to strong collective support from the Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG), parents, students, coaches and teachers.

“This achievement would not have been possible without everyone playing their part. It is truly a team effort,” he said.

Lim noted that the school has a relatively small student population of 685, with 330 pupils in the upper primary levels (Standards Four to Six). Of these, 104 students — nearly one-third — are actively involved in marching.

“As a result, the school has invested significantly in their development, including training costs, meals and transportation,” he added.

Looking ahead, Lim said the school aims to reclaim the state-level Merdeka marching championship next year. SJK (C) Min Sin won the title last year but finished as runners-up this year after several team members were affected by influenza, forcing the school to field only 80 out of 104 marchers.

Coach Ang Aik Fung expressed his heartfelt appreciation to parents for their unwavering support.

“Parental backing is extremely important, and it has made my job as a coach much easier,” he said, adding that parents even chartered a bus to accompany the team to Batu Kawan for the National Day celebrations.

Ang shared that the school’s marching journey began in 2018 with the formation of a boys’ Tunas Kadet Remaja Sekolah (TKRS) team, followed by a girls’ TKRS team in 2022. In 2024, Scouts and Red Crescent units were introduced. Today, the school has six uniformed teams — two TKRS, two Scouts and two Red Crescent — each comprising 21 members and 20 reserves.

At an international online competition held in September this year, SJK (C) Min Sin secured second place in the TKRS girls’ category and fourth place in the boys’ category.

One incident during this year’s National Day parade left a deep impression on Ang. A participant, Tan Ker Xin, continued marching even after losing a shoe that another marcher accidentally stepped on.

“She kept marching on the hot tar road outside the stadium, wearing only her socks. It was only at the finishing line that she told me what had happened,” Ang said. “That showed her fighting spirit. Had she stopped to put her shoe back on, it would have disrupted the formation and rhythm of the entire team.”

Two student leaders, Sergeants Kingsley Ong and Lee Yung Thing, said joining the marching teams had instilled discipline and taught them the importance of teamwork.

“The drills were tough and challenging, but I will miss them,” said Kingsley, who will enter Chung Ling High School next year.

Yung Thing, who will be in Standard Six next year, said she looks forward to representing the school again. “We will train hard and do our best,” she said.

Among those present at the certificate presentation ceremony were former pupils Lim Jun Kuan and Jayden Lee Yik Hung, who are now studying at Chung Ling High School. Both had previously represented SJK (C) Min Sin in marching and returned to show their support.

Also present were Khaw Wei Kiat, the school’s senior assistant for Co-Curricular activities, PIBG chairman Lee Zheng Yong and several parents.

Story by K.H. Ong

Pix by Mohammad Iqbal Hamdan and courtesy of SJK (C) Min Sin