BRATs Genting 2018 is looking for YOU!

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Malaysia’s top young journalist programme is open for submissions, and here’s your chance to be a part of it!

BRATs Genting 2018 is OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS, and you’re invited!

The international award-winning R.AGE team will be running the camp, showing you everything you need to know to be a modern multimedia journalist.

You’ll learn about video production, social media reporting, interviewing skills, photography, news writing, and so much more!

You’ll also go on amazing field assignments, to visit places and meet people only journalists would have access to.

But more important, the BRATs programme is probably the BEST training ground for teenagers who want to be part of the media industry. After you attend one of our camps, you’ll get year-long opportunities to work with R.AGE and The Star on exciting projects and assignments.

Camp will be held 19-22 Dec, and submissions end Dec 10, so don’t forget to click the button below to SIGN UP! =)

Sign up for BRATs!

The BRATs story

How it all began

IN 1993, The Star organised its first ever workshop for aspiring journalists. There were nine participants, and they gathered every month at the The Star’s office to learn all the skills of the trade.

After six months, the nine 16-year-olds published their very own pullout in The Star. By then, they had given themselves a name, the BRATs — Bright, Roving, Annoying Teens.

It would prove to be the start of a truly remarkable programme, held every year since.

In 1995, the programme grew to its current format, with three camps a year – each held in a different city and with new participants added to the “BRATs family”.

A lot has changed with the BRATs camps. We teach them social media skills, photography, online video production and everything else they need to become modern journalists.

But the one thing that hasn’t changed? The participants are still as bright, roving AND annoying as ever before — and we wouldn’t have it any other way =)

#BRATsLangkawi2018

March 2018 saw a brand new cohort of keen BRATs participants take a trip to Langkawi Island! But not just to soak up the sun – they took on the high seas and had some close animal encounters, which of course, they documented with style.

Armed with their notebooks, cameras, and BRATs spirit, they have written stories, produced videos, and captured photographs any professional journalist would be proud of.

Check out their stories and videos below!

BRATs STORIES

Langkawi March 2018

#TeamMayLee: The trick rider’s tale

ABU Ubaidah Muhammad Hamzah is a showman on a horse. The 24-year-old specialises in trick riding, a special equestrian field that combines athletics, acrobatics and horse riding.

#TeamClaire: Breeding the best

LANGKAWI is home to beautiful sandy beaches, crystal-clear water and, perhaps surprisingly, purebred Arabian horses.

#TeamSatpal: Racing to new heights

A FEAR of heights might have ended Muhammad Ziyad Muhammad Hamzah’s horse riding career before it even started, but growing up in a family of professional endurance horse trainers gave him the motivation to continue.

#TeamClaire: Plenty of opportunities at sea

DID you know that the first solar-powered boat in Malaysia was mostly built by local university students?

#TeamSatpal: Taking the wheel

CAPTAIN Yogeswaran Gopal Krishnan first stumbled across what would turn out to be a lifelong passion for sailing when he accompanied his friend to work on a ship as a crew member.

#TeamMayLee: From dreams to reality

CRUISING on a yacht with the sea breeze in his hair, Hamie Azuar Hamizan looks like he was born for the sea life.

#BRATsGenting2017

Thirty one BRATs participants saw Genting Highlands like never before: from gibbon-watching to being butlers for a day, they covered the entire Genting experience.

And of course, they documented the entire thing!

Armed with their notebooks, cameras, and BRATs spirit, they have written stories, produced videos, and captured photographs any professional journalist would be proud of.

Check out their stories and videos below!

BTS: BRATs Genting 2017

The BRATs’ stories and videos

December Camp

#TeamSatpal: Canines in action

THE idea of having a K9 unit at Resorts World Genting (RWG) dates back to 1970 when security guard Jerry Newton was on his nightly round with Nero, his pet German Shepherd.

#TeamClaire: Top cops of Genting

BUSTING bad guys, rescuing citizens in distress, and swaggering around with firearms are all part of being a cop – according to the movies at least. To dispel some of those myths, we interviewed members of the Resort World Genting (RWG) auxiliary police about their lives and work.

#TeamMayLee: Police with a purpose

THE word “police” might bring to mind uniforms and police cars, but below that surface is an immense amount of coordination that ensures the unit’s efficiency and effectiveness. This is where Isaac Koh, 25, comes in.

#TeamSatpal: A gateway to the hilltop

THE first thing one notices when approaching Resorts World Genting (RWG) by car are the strings of gondolas gliding up the mountainside, floating above the occasional fog that clouds the area.

#TeamMayLee: Putting safety first

BEHIND Awana SkyWay’s effortless glide lies great effort, teamwork and precise maintenance – the responsibilities of Francis Lee, assistant vice president of the SkyWay operations and technical division for Resorts World Genting (RWG).

#TeamClaire: Now everyone can ride

THE date Dec 20, 2017, marked the first birthday of Awana SkyWay. According to operations executive Asman Faidy, 42, there are usually 20,000 passengers each day, rising to 30,000 on weekends.

August Camp

#TeamMayLee: Captivated by coniferous trees

#TeamMayLee did its part to help with coniferous tree-replanting, and also learnt about the trees part in Malaysia’s ecosystem.

#TeamHansel: Taking a walk on the wild side

This nature guide believes that reptiles and amphibians should be given a second chance. #TeamHansel investigates!

#TeamClarissa: Moth-ers unite at Genting

#TeamClarissa hit up the Chin Swee Temple in Genting Highlands to look for moths, and they found plenty! Here is what they learnt.

#TeamHansel: Housekeeping with the BRATs

#TeamHansel went behind the scenes at Hotel on the Park, Genting, to learn more about the hidden world of housekeeping!

#TeamClarissa: Keeping traditional art alive

#TeamClarissa took a peek into the East Coast’s art culture, and explored its significance to Malaysians.

#TeamMayLee: Service with a smile

Working in a restaurant is no easy task, but that does not deter these crew members from proving their mettle, as #TeamMayLee soon found out.

March camp

Team Julien: A gibbon love story

Team May Lee: Pitcher perfect

Team Claire: Voice of the forest

Team Julien: Best laundry plant ever

Team May Lee: A cuppa France

Team Claire: The butler life

BRATs Langkawi 2015

Twenty young and enthusiastic teens are back at Pulau Langkawi for the last BRATs workshop of 2015!

As they’re at a journalism camp, they’re required to blog about their experience. And with fun assignments at the SkyCab and SkyBridge, Skytrex Adventure Park as well as the mangrove swamps along Kilim River, you can be sure that they’ll have interesting stories to tell.

For the BRATs blog stories

#BRATSLANGKAWI

Follow the BRATs on Twitter to find out what they’re up to in Langkawi! Full stories and videos by the young journos will be up on this page real soon =)

That's the beautiful Andaman Sea right there! And #TeamIan are here in the open on a magnificent boat ride! pic.twitter.com/u4hnTuqN9V
— BRATs (@starbrats) December 4, 2015

Mini flying fox to test out the equipments! Stay tuned for the REAL THING! #TeamMayLee pic.twitter.com/bw6wiWte2R
— BRATs (@starbrats) December 3, 2015

700m above sea level and yet we're cool about it, no fear. And that's a wrap for day 2! #teamViv #BRATsLangkawi pic.twitter.com/NZOts4sFuW
— BRATs (@starbrats) December 3, 2015

#TeamClarissa waiting to get in the air via SkyCab Langkawi! For their stories visit https://t.co/l9KRCBO3Yz pic.twitter.com/zhaGz6kVTD
— BRATs (@starbrats) December 3, 2015

#TeamSatpal: Turtle-y in Trouble

November 1, 2018
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The 21st century brings unseen threats to local turtle conservation efforts.

#TeamMayLee: The Point of Being Malaysian

November 1, 2018
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In a modest village situated on the sandy shores of Terengganu, the production of ikan bilis has formed the livelihoods of most families for multiple generations.

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#TeamSatpal: The Fisherwomen’s Tale

November 1, 2018
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When men go out to sea, these inspiring wives stay on land to support the family fishing business. by TEAM SATPAL On the coastline of Pantai Penunjuk in Kijal, Terengganu, lies the village of Kampung Tengah. This hidden gem on the map is home to fishing families whose main commodity is ikan bilis, or anchovies. […]

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#TeamMayLee: Conservation Conversation

November 1, 2018
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Resorts World Kijal serves as a pioneer within the multitudes of hotels who now offer turtle- related services

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#TeamClarissa: Scoring in a Different Kind of Net

November 1, 2018
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What life is like for a small-town fisherman in Terengganu.

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#TeamClarissa: Slowly but Surely

November 1, 2018
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Turtle sanctuary efforts pay off as an unprecedented number of turtles return to nest.

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#TeamSatpal: Taking the wheel

May 30, 2018
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CAPTAIN Yogeswaran Gopal Krishnan first stumbled across what would turn out to be a lifelong passion for sailing when he accompanied his friend to work on a ship as a crew member.

Read more Like this post6

#TeamMayLee: From dreams to reality

May 30, 2018
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CRUISING on a yacht with the sea breeze in his hair, Hamie Azuar Hamizan looks like he was born for the sea life.

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#TeamClaire: Plenty of opportunities at sea

May 30, 2018
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DID you know that the first solar-powered boat in Malaysia was mostly built by local university students?

Read more Like this post2

#TeamSatpal: Racing to new heights

May 30, 2018
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A FEAR of heights might have ended Muhammad Ziyad Muhammad Hamzah’s horse riding career before it even started, but growing up in a family of professional endurance horse trainers gave him the motivation to continue.

Read more Like this post3

#TeamMayLee: The trick rider’s tale

May 30, 2018
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ABU Ubaidah Muhammad Hamzah is a showman on a horse. The 24-year-old specialises in trick riding, a special equestrian field that combines athletics, acrobatics and horse riding.

Read more Like this post1

#TeamClaire: Breeding the best

May 30, 2018
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LANGKAWI is home to beautiful sandy beaches, crystal-clear water and, perhaps surprisingly, purebred Arabian horses.

Read more Like this post2

The participants

These 20 participants from workshops from the last three years came back for another round of BRATs in the beautiful island of Langkawi!

MARSHA CHOO WEN LIN
LAU JIAN HUI
OOI TZE HAN
KHAIRUL ADRI
ONYSHA ENKAYE BOAK
YAP CHIEN SHING
VICTORIA TAY HUEY QI
NATHAN THARMALINGAM
WAN ADAM ABD AZIZ
KENNETH CHOONG WAI MUN

ELIZABETH WONG KAI YAN
CHOO XIN ER
KASHMEERA PILLAI
DHARMINI ILANCHERAN
DIVYA RAMESH
KIMMY KHOO SU YIN
MOHAMAD HIDAYATH HISHAM
MARIA MURUGIAH
NITHYIALAKSHMI RAVINDRAN
JANELLE TAN YAN WEI

Congratulations, and welcome to the BRATs family! We’ll see you all at the next BRATs camp! =)

BRATs JB 2015

We came, we saw, we conquered! We’ve completed another BRATs workshop and boy, we had so much fun!

The BRATs participants roamed the streets of Johor Baru and spoke to some interesting people like the Sultan of Johor’s laundryman, the owner of one of the oldest kopitiams in town and the young man who runs his family’s 96-year-old bakery business.

And of course, we went to Legoland Malaysia Resort to interview the manager and lifeguards of their new water park!

Check out the groups’ stories below, and tell ’em what you think in the comments! =)

What happened at BRATs JB

Oh my guard!

by BRATs

Water park manager Robert Harrison hopes to inspire lifeguards to reach their full potential

June 30, 2015
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Building blocks of empowerment

by BRATs

Lego Friends, an interactive musical, aims to help its young fans become more empowered and confident.

June 30, 2015
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Life of a lifeguard

by BRATs

Training every week, and standing in the
sun every day – but it’s a dream job!

June 30, 2015
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VIDEO: The process of baking with a wood fired oven

by BRATs

James Lim shows the BRATs from #TeamMayLee what a typical day is like in the world of traditional baking.

June 23, 2015
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The Sultan of Johor’s laundryman

by BRATs

Meet the couple behind Kedai Dobi Shanghai, a true treasure of Malaysian culture and heritage in Johor Baru’s historic Jalan Tan Hiok Nee.

June 23, 2015
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VIDEO: The past and present of Restoran Hua Mui

by BRATs

BRATs from #TeamVivienne discover how was Restoran Hua Mui like 46 years ago and some of its interesting features.

June 23, 2015
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Piping-hot passion

by BRATs

With third-generation baker James Lim at its helm, 96-year-old Hiap Joo Bakery and Biscuit Factory is still baking strong.

June 23, 2015
1 comment

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Striking a chord

by BRATs

The BRATs spoke to Hua Mui’s loyal customers to find out what makes the restaurant so special to them.

June 23, 2015
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Living history

by BRATs

Jalan Tan Hiok Nee has enough history and drama to fill a Hollywood film – if you know where to look.

June 23, 2015
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Old is gold

by BRATs

Restaurant owner David Chiang is making sure one of the oldest kopitiams in Johor Baru retains its history.

June 23, 2015
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BRATs Raub 2015

Our first BRATs camp of the year in Raub, Pahang was AMAZING!

We stayed at the super-awesome Casabrina luxury resort, rode through the jungle on pick-up trucks, played with baby elephants and – of course – learnt a whole lot about being journalists.

The participants were divided into three groups, each with a R.AGE or Star journalist assigned to lead them.

Check out the groups’ stories below, and tell ’em what you think in the comments! =)

What happened at BRATs Raub

#TeamKenneth

My BRATs Experience: Nathelie Yong and Lydia Lee

by BRATs

Two crazy, rather noisy girls, fresh out of high school; one skipped college classes to come, the other waiting on art school.

April 30, 2015
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My BRATs Experience: Dianne Leong Mae Lynn

by BRATs

Thinking that I would spend most of my time in the ever famous six star resort, Casabrina, doing nothing but writing articles in an air conditioned suite all day long, I decided to join this 4 day 3 night journalism camp.

April 7, 2015
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My BRATs Experience: Elizabeth Ong

by BRATs

The moment I received the email from The Star BRATs informing me that I had been selected as one of the participants of BRATs Raub, I was screaming and dancing alone in my room.

April 7, 2015
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My BRATs Experience: Latashah Vallimanalan

by BRATs

When I first found out that I had been selected for BRATs, I didn’t think that I would have the time of my life.

April 7, 2015
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My BRATs experience: Audrey Au Yong

by BRATs

My BRATs memories in a poem.

April 7, 2015
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7 things you didn't know about elephants

by BRATs

ELEPHANT TRIVIA FTW, all the way from the National Elephant Conservation Centre!

March 31, 2015
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The healing heaven

by BRATs

#TeamKenneth talks to Casabrina owner Felix Tee on the resort’s unique approach to wellness.

March 31, 2015
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Elephantrivia: 7 things you didn’t know about elephants

by BRATs

#TeamKenneth contributes a few facts they learnt at the elephant sanctuary.

March 31, 2015
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A passion for elephants

by BRATs

Young guides working at the National Elephant Conservation Centre (NECC) do it out of passion for these gentle jumbos.

March 31, 2015
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The change they chose

by BRATs

Two orang asli villages open up to the BRATs about the challenges of moving with the times.

March 31, 2015
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#TeamIan

#TeamIan’s Sky-High Adventure

December 5, 2015
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If you’re into heights and in need of excitement, you’ll definitely need to visit SkyBridge.

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The BRATs explore the importance of Langkawi’s mangroves

by BRATs

To learn about journalism, sometimes you have to get your hands dirty — and that’s exactly what the aspiring teen journalists at the BRATs Langkawi 2015 Year-End camp did on Dec 2-5. The participants were divided into four teams, and we were part of #TeamIan, named after our facilitator, R.AGE editor Ian Yee. We visited the […]

December 5, 2015
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Life of a lifeguard

by BRATs

Training every week, and standing in the
sun every day – but it’s a dream job!

June 30, 2015
No comments

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Living history

by BRATs

Jalan Tan Hiok Nee has enough history and drama to fill a Hollywood film – if you know where to look.

June 23, 2015
1 comment

Read more Like this post1

My BRATs Experience: Nathelie Yong and Lydia Lee

by BRATs

Two crazy, rather noisy girls, fresh out of high school; one skipped college classes to come, the other waiting on art school.

April 30, 2015
No comments

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My BRATs Experience: Tan Cheng Yew

by BRATs

I could go on and on about how much I love the camp, but one of the numerous things I have learned from the BRATs program is to keep our articles short, simple and sweet.

April 7, 2015
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No place like home

by BRATs

A young orang asli talks to BRATs about life away from his village, and how there’s no place like home.

March 31, 2015
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Resort respects nature

by BRATs

Casabrina owner, Felix Tee shares about the importance of being eco-friendly and living healthy.

March 31, 2015
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Big love

by BRATs

What’s it like working with elephants all day, every day? #TeamIan finds that it can be a mammoth task.

March 31, 2015
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#TeamMayLee

Langkawi getting trashed

January 5, 2016
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The BRATs from #TeamMayLee learn how Langkawi’s mangrove forests are under threat.

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#TeamMayLee: Conquering great heights

December 5, 2015
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Check it out as #TeamMayLee face the fearsome heights in Sky Bridge and the challenging obstacles in Sky Trex.

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A cruise for mother nature

December 5, 2015
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Day 3 for #TeamMayLee – We had fun in the sun replanting mangrove trees, eagle watching, and exploring Bat Cave!

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Building blocks of empowerment

by BRATs

Lego Friends, an interactive musical, aims to help its young fans become more empowered and confident.

June 30, 2015
No comments

Read more Like this post9

Piping-hot passion

by BRATs

With third-generation baker James Lim at its helm, 96-year-old Hiap Joo Bakery and Biscuit Factory is still baking strong.

June 23, 2015
1 comment

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My BRATs Experience: Tay Khye Vern

by BRATs

It took a mere 4 days and 3 nights, a group of the most extraordinary peers, and a team of professional journalists to fundamentally change the way I perceived the world.