A team of students from Chung Ling Private High School in Penang secured first place in the Water Watch Penang (WWP) annual Escape Room 6.0: River, Water and Environmental Quiz, held recently at the Penang Math Platform in Gelugor. The trio, known as the Hanson Hurricane team and consisting of Form Two students Kenneth Lim Chen Liang, Toh Yu Hom, and Chong Hee Zhu, won the competition for the second consecutive year and took home a cash prize of RM1,000.
The contest, now in its sixth edition, attracted over 90 participants from various primary and secondary schools across the region. Its objective is to raise awareness and knowledge about water conservation and broader environmental issues. Contestants were tested on diverse topics ranging from local water footprints and desertification to river ecosystems and damselfly species.
The competition structure involved splitting teams into two groups during preliminary rounds, where they answered increasingly difficult questions across six areas of study. Each team divided these topics among themselves before preparing through six online study sessions lasting two hours each. Although the Hanson Hurricane team entered the finals in second place, they drew on their initial experience to secure the championship title.
In the secondary school category, Han Chiang High School finished as first runner-up, followed by SMJK Heng Ee from Bayan Baru in second runner-up position. Two additional teams from SMJK Jit Sin 2 earned consolation prizes. Meanwhile, the primary school division was led by a team from SJK (C) Kwang Hwa Sungai Nibong, including Enya Lim Xi En, Ang Carl Shu, and Marcus Hong Ming Jun, all aged 12. Their schoolmates, alongside teams from SJK (C) Shih Chung Cawangan and SJK (C) Chong Cheng, earned several runner-up and consolation awards.
Competition topics were expanded this year to include a regional and global perspective on water and environmental issues. Questions covered subjects such as the water treatment process, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, sustainable water management in Southeast Asia, and water-related disasters worldwide. Participants were required not only to recall factual information but also to apply critical thinking to real-world scenarios.
In response to the growing use of AI tools for quick information retrieval, event organizers implemented stricter rules this year, allowing students to bring only handwritten or printed reference materials during the quiz. This change aimed to maintain the contest’s challenge and encourage deeper understanding.
Organizers noted the competition’s growth since its 2021 inception when just 12 teams competed in a combined format. Increased sponsorship from the Penang Water Supply Corporation in 2023 enabled the introduction of separate categories for primary and secondary students, along with improved prize structures.
WWP executive manager Dr. Hong Chern Wern described the event as an evolving initiative designed to foster environmental and water literacy among youth. Assistant manager Rebecca Anne Chin Hui Wen emphasized the importance of nurturing enthusiasm and critical awareness among participants to motivate broader community efforts in preserving natural resources through education.