Perfect score for Malaysian whiz kid Voon How

Audrey Edwards, The Star, Asia News Network, Kuala Lumpur

What is 247,448 divided by 64? In the time that most adults would take to write down the digits, eight-year-old Wong Voon How would not only have clicked away at his abacus and solved this question but a few others as well.

He became the first person to chalk up a perfect score for all 160 questions at the fourth Pan-Pacific Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association (Pama) National Competition in under 12 minutes.

Voon How, who was also crowned the "Champion of Champions" last year during the third Pama International Competition in Bangkok for the age six to nine category, subtracted, multiplied and divided his way to becoming the champion in the eight to nine age group on Sept. 9.

"I didn't think that I would be able to do it. But I'm very happy that I won," he said afterwards.

For his efforts, Voon How, from Selangor, will represent the country along with 11 others in the fourth Pama International Competition in Canada in December.

The last week competition required him to answer mathematical questions involving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division using the abacus and mental arithmetic.

"I love maths and I like school, too. There is no secret (to winning) but I do the sums daily for 15 minutes," he said, adding that his ambition was to be a doctor.

His mother, Yoh Ping Ping, said that Voon How, who does not like to watch television, had improved in his mathematical skills after attending mental arithmetic classes about two years ago.

His sister, Wan Fei, was also among the winners in the age six category.

Their mother coaches them daily.

The competition was organized by Akademi IMA Mental Arithmetic and opened by Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat.

There were 500 contestants throughout Malaysia who took part in one of five categories. Winners received a trophy, a certificate and a hamper sponsored by Nestle Products Sdn Bhd.

First-time winner Ho Shi Jie, 11, from Johor said she would practice with friends and was confident that she would win.

"Every time I do the sums, I always get high scores. But sometimes, when I practice with friends, I don't always beat them. I am honored at being given the chance to represent Malaysia."