KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 -- While most people his age are planning their retirement, 55-year-old Subash Abdullah is still sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam - and acing it.

Subash, who first sat for his SPM back in 1987, scored 12 As for 2024, including in additional mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and Islamic studies.

In fact, the straight-A student has been taking the school-leaving examination annually for the past five years - not to chase grades, but to spark a conversation.

A former film director who now tutors secondary school students wants to prove that science subjects are not just for "the smart kids" and change the declining trend of interest in the science stream.

He's hoping that his hands-on meth...