KUANTAN, 20 September 2015 – A Silat contestant from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Muhammad Faizul M Nasir, 27, was hailed as the best participant in the Best Putra International Silat category at the 6th International Pencak Silat Deputy Prime Minister Cup Championship.
The competition was held at Berjaya Megamall Complex, Kuantan from 15 to 20 September 2015.
Three other participants, were also named as the best participant in other respective categories, namely, Siti Shazwana, 23, from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) as the best participant of Putri Best International (Female category) while Muhamad Zarish Hakim, 23, from Kolej Komuniti Pahang and Normanjalina Madon, 24, from University of Malaya (UM) were nominated for Putra and Putri or Best Male and Female Contestants respectively for local institutions of higher learning (IPT).
The excellent performance shown by all four has helped Malaysia top the competition with a clean sweep of eight gold medals for the international category.
This is the second time Muhammad Faizul who is also a Mechanical Engineering student of UTM  won the International Final round, having won it the first time round in 2012.
He defeated a participant from Singapore in the finals, and a contestant from Vietnam in the semi-finals.
The competition was divided into three categories namely local higher education institutions (IPT), International and Youth.
A total of 17 contingents took part in the international category include Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Korea, India, Yemen and Indonesia with 32 competitors from public and private higher learning institutions.
Organized by the Ministry of Higher Education and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) in collaboration with the Malaysian National Silat Federation (PESAKA), the competition offers cash prizes totaling RM8,000 and a trophy.
The prize giving ceremony was officiated by PESAKA Vice President, Datuk Md Sohaimi Mohamed Shah.