PETALING JAYA: A 12-year-old prodigy has become Universiti Malaya’s youngest ever undergraduate after being admitted into the science faculty to study for a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.
The university said Izz Imil Shahrom was admitted after being interviewed by a special committee and approved by the university senate.
UM vice-chancellor Noor Azuan Abu Osman called for Izz Imil to be given the space and privacy to focus on his studies and on getting used to being in university.
“This is important to ensure he can undergo conducive physiological development while pursuing his studies successfully,” he said in a statement.
Izz Imil’s mother, Ilyah Abdul Aziz, was quoted as saying that her son had completed Form 4-level studies in mathematics and chemistry when he was just five years old.
She also said her son, who has mild autism and hyperlexia, had difficulty speaking but has exhibited a keen interest in numbers since he was three.
Izz Imil’s abilities are similar to those of people with savantism, described as showing exceptional ability in an intellectual activity or a group of related activities. Savantism is known to be prevalent in autistic populations, though not exclusive to them.
