MOSTI PLANS ASEAN-LEVEL MALAYSIA COMBAT ROBOT COMPETITION FOR NEXT YEAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20  (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) is planning to organise an ASEAN-level Malaysia Combat Robot Competition next year.

Deputy Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal, said that the proposal takes into account Malaysia's role as the ASEAN Chair next year, aiming to create opportunities and draw the attention of member nations to the field of robotics in Malaysia.

“At MOSTI, we remain committed to ensuring that such programmes are encouraged to foster innovation and increase youth participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

“We also hope that this open Malaysian competition can be expanded to a larger scale, possibly even at a global level. 

“By inviting ASEAN countries, our young champions this year can compete on the ASEAN stage,” he said during a press conference after the closing ceremony of the 2024 Malaysia Combat Robot Competition, here today.

Mohammad Yusof emphasised that robotics competitions are not merely platforms to test skills but also a way to hone creativity, strategy, and teamwork among the participants.

The competition, organised by MOSTI through the National Science Centre (PSN), is open to youth from both public and private institutions of higher learning, Industrial Training Institutes, MARA Skills Institutes, polytechnics, robotics communities, and individuals.

This year’s competition, themed “Keep Fighting” or “Terus Berjuang”, was won by Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TARUMT), marking their second consecutive victory.

Meanwhile, TARUMT engineering student Hagrid Cheah, 22, said the competition allowed his team to deepen their understanding of building high-endurance robots.

“So we will research the selected weapons, and refer to professional combat robotics from the USA, India, and Korea. Then we will build our own based on that information and resources,” he said.

The 2024 Malaysia Combat Robot Competition, held from Sept 16 to 19 at PSN, offered RM500 to RM10,000 in cash prizes.

It is a strategic collaboration between PSN, MOSTI, and Hibiscus Petroleum Berhad, all of whom are committed to strengthening talent development and the innovation agenda in Malaysia. 

In addition to supporting the growth of local technology, the partnership also plays a crucial role in reinforcing public-private sector relations in pursuit of a shared goal to position the nation as a regional innovation hub.

-- BERNAMA