Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the initiative by the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) recognised academic excellence and reflected the state’s ongoing commitment to educational development.

“I am extremely proud of the 819 candidates in Penang who obtained straight As in the 2024 SPM exam,” he said at the award presentation at Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang here today.

Chow said as of May this year, PHEB had allocated around RM1.5 million to support 1,217 students across the state.

PHEB deputy chairman Senator Dr RA Lingeshwaran said this was the second consecutive year the board had recognised outstanding Hindu students in the SPM examination.

He said each student would receive RM50 for every A, with amounts ranging from RM350 for 7As to RM550 for 11As.

The best performing student with 9A+, Darshini Subash Sun from SMK Hussein Onn, received a trophy, laptop and RM450.

Kuhan Tharman, an 8As student from SMJK Chung Ling, received RM400.

Lingeshwaran said that between 2023 and May 2025, PHEB had channelled RM883,607 into education aid for students pursuing certificate, diploma and degree programmes, as well as welfare assistance.

In total, nearly RM1 million had been spent, benefitting at least 1,028 Hindus in Penang, he said.

“This year, PHEB received RM2 million in state funding, up from RM1.5 million last year,” he said.