Robotics takes young talent global

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 13, 2026

Thirteen student teams from underprivileged and indigenous schools in Malaysia won top spots in the MyKasih Robotech 2026 national competition and will represent the country at international robotics contests in Austria and Indonesia. This initiative, supported by the MyKasih Foundation and Dialog Group Berhad, aims to boost STEM education access and opportunities for rural and marginalized students, highlighting the impact of targeted resources on their academic achievements.

Thirteen student teams from Malaysia will compete internationally after securing top positions in the MyKasih Robotech 2026 national programme, which concluded with its finals on August 5 in Kuala Lumpur. The initiative aims to encourage indigenous youth and students from underprivileged schools to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through hands-on robotics education.

The programme, co-organised with Makers@International Islamic University Malaysia (Makers@IIUM), involved 208 teams from 168 Orang Asli and pribumi schools, as well as seven high-needs non-indigenous schools supported by the MyKasih Foundation. Since its launch in May, the initiative provided robotics kits nationwide, benefiting more than 400 students and 180 teachers through workshops and zonal competitions.

Winners across three categories—primary school, secondary school, and MyKasih-invited schools—earned the right to represent Malaysia at two upcoming international robotics competitions. The top six teams will take part in the 28th International Robot Olympiad (IRO) scheduled for January 2027 in Vienna, Austria. These include teams from SMK Sultan Ahmad (Pahang), SMK Panggung Jaya (Kelantan), SK Kampung Busut Asli (Selangor), SK Pengkalan Tereh (Johor), SK Ladang Pendas (Johor), and SMK Tanjung Datuk (Johor). Seven other teams, ranked seventh to thirteenth, will compete at the 12th Kontes Robot Nusantara (KRON) in Jakarta, Indonesia, in October. These schools are SMK Semenchu (Johor), SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra (Johor), SMK Putrajaya Presint 11(1) (Putrajaya), SK Bandar Seri Alam (Johor), SM St Peter Telipok (Sabah), SK Pos Raya (Perak), and SK Seri Hartamas (Kuala Lumpur).

The Robotech programme is part of MyKasih Foundation’s flagship “Love My School” initiative and receives financial backing from Dialog Group Berhad, which contributed RM500,000 to supply over 200 robotics kits. MyKasih Foundation Chairman and Co-founder Tan Sri Dr Ngau Boon Keat highlighted the foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting indigenous student participation in global competitions. He noted previous successes at events such as the IRO in Busan, South Korea, and Gold Coast, Australia, where teams brought home gold medals and technical awards.

Dr Ngau emphasised that the programme demonstrates how students from rural and underprivileged backgrounds can excel when provided with adequate resources and opportunities. Similarly, Makers@IIUM Director Assoc Prof Dr Yasir Mohd Mustafah stressed the role of higher education institutions in bridging access gaps to specialised STEM education for underserved communities.

Education Ministry representatives, including Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek and Director-General Datuk Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad, attended the award ceremony. Siti Asmah Md Yusof, principal assistant director of the ministry’s Special Model & Indigenous Education Management Unit, highlighted the importance of collaboration between the government and private sector to expand educational opportunities for Orang Asli and pribumi students, describing education as a shared responsibility.

The MyKasih Robotech initiative reflects ongoing efforts to foster STEM skills among Malaysia’s indigenous youth, empowering them to compete on national and international stages.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.