Teo: The Tamil Short Story Writing Contest 2025 serves as an important platform to showcase the talents of both new and experienced writers, said Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching. She emphasized that the contest, jointly organized by Minnal FM and the Malaysian Tamil Writers' Association, also contributes to the development of the growing local Tamil literary ecosystem.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, selected works from the contest will be translated into other languages in collaboration with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, allowing these stories to reach a wider, multi-ethnic and multilingual audience. Teo shared these insights at the prize presentation ceremony, which was attended by key figures such as National FM manager Salbiah Mohd Sharif, Minnal FM manager S. Rohiny, and Malaysian Tamil Writers' Association chairman P. Mohanan.
The contest winners were R. Dharisyan, who claimed first place with a RM3,000 cash prize, followed by M. Kartigesan in second place with a RM2,000 prize, and P. Athyletchumy in third place with a RM1,000 prize. Teo also presented a contribution of RM20,000 to the Malaysian Tamil Writers' Association, aimed at promoting the Tamil language and literature.
The allocation, sourced from the Deputy Minister's fund, will facilitate the printing of 2,000 copies of a short story compilation from the contest, to be distributed to Tamil schools nationwide. Teo expressed hopes that this contribution will inspire the emergence of more young and talented writers through their creative works.
Additionally, the deputy minister announced that the association, in collaboration with the National Library of Malaysia, plans to organize a special seminar on May 10, focusing on writing for children and teenagers. "Such initiatives are vital to fostering a creative and resourceful younger generation," Teo noted.
Meanwhile, Teo congratulated Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) for its debut on Triton Digital's Global Streaming Rankers for March 2025, where it ranked 30th worldwide. She highlighted this as an international acknowledgment, placing RTM among the world's leading digital audio broadcasters.
According to Teo, the Global Streaming Rankers, published monthly by Triton Digital, serves as a global benchmark for excellence in digital audio content and streaming performance. She remarked that RTM's inclusion underscores the consistent quality of its content, its strong listener engagement, and its ability to remain relevant in the fast-evolving digital landscape.
"I am confident this achievement is a direct result of the ministry's strategic digital transformation efforts through initiatives such as RTMKlik, which now offers access to 36 radio stations, including two streaming channels," she added.