Bantul, NU Online
Ahmad Kian Santang, popularly known as Kian, the 9th grade student of Islamic Junior High School (MTs) Al-Falaah Pandak Bantul who is also santri of Pesantren Al-Imdad Bantul recently won a gold medal in biology at the National Madrasah Science Competition (KSM) in Pontianak. KSM is a prestigious event initiated by the Directorate General of Madrasah Education, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA).

Kian was born in Sleman on 30 June 2002 and is first son of Arosin Suryanto and Ade Rokayah. He also won the Best Overall Award in Biology.

"The Kian's achievement is not surprising, because almost every time when I see him in pesantren (Islamic boarding school), he always read the book," the leader of Pesantren Al-Imdad Bantul Drs KH Habib Abdus Syakur said.

Meanwhile, the principal of MTs Al Falaah Ahmad Murod said Kian was a diligent and smart student in both school and pesantren.

"Evidently he's appointed as chairman of the student council for the period 2015-2016," Ahmad Murod said.

His senior in pesantren named Cholid said that Kian had won several reading yellow books contests (MQK) at the Qurán Reading Competition in Bantul and Yogyakarta.

"Last year, he got the first rank at the reading yellow book contest in the subject fiqh at the MKQ in Bantul held at Pesantren An-Nur Ngrukem, Bantul," Cholid said, adding that Kian represented the district of Bantul in the Yogyakarta MQK held at Pesantren Nurul Haromain Kulonprogro. He was at the second place in the same branch.

When asked about his hopes for the future, Kian firmly said that he wanted to study in Japan.

"Because Japan is a very advanced country in the field of technology. I hope to take the sciences there to be developed in our country," Kian said.

The Kian's success in the Pontianak's event could ward off the stigma that in addition be capable of understanding religious subjects, santri could also gain their outstanding achievements in sciences. (Bramma Aji Putra/Masdar)