Flexband: (From left) Munusamy, SJK(C) Chukai teacher Lim Mee Cin, Yen Rui, Ren An, Wai Lok and former HKISIIC chief executive Tso Tat Ming posing for a photo.
ELEVEN young Malaysian talents proved their mettle at the recent Yan Chai Hospital 11th Hong Kong International Student Innovation Invention Contest (HKISIIC) 2025, bagging a total of seven awards among them.
The country’s delegation was led by Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS) exco committee member Major Munusamy Arigovindan.
Held from March 13 to 16 at Hong Kong Chu Hai College, the competition saw Malaysian teams bagging two Gold Awards, two Silver Awards, and three Special Awards presented by Vietnam, Hong Kong and Macao – out of 96 inventions showcased.
The team from SJK(C) Chukai, Terengganu, comprising Soh Yen Rui, Tuang Ren An and Mok Wai Lok, won the Gold Award, Vietnam Special Award and International Innovation Cup for their “Fear-inducing Flexband”, which promotes sustainable gardening practices to protect young plants from snails.
Seed bomb: (From right) SJK(T) Rawang teacher R. Lila S. Romanazan with winning duo Sanjaanaa and Laxshan.
Sanjaanaa Jegathesvaran and Laxshan Shanmuganathan from SJK(T) Rawang, Selangor, brought home the Gold Award and Hong Kong Special Award for their invention, which combines basil leaves with a foliar fertiliser to enhance plant health.
Their schoolmates, Divina Perabakaran, Pavisha Prata Kumar and Tivesha Gunalan, won the Silver Award and Macao Special Award for “Seed Bomb” – a mixture of soil, clay and nutrients wrapped around a seed – which offers a practical solution to the challenges faced by farmers in determining suitable crops for their land.
For their innovative healthcare solution that features a smart tracking system with Internet of Things sensors to enhance medication management, Ong Jirng Ying, Jesslyn Tan Yee Jing and Ling Qian Ru from SJK(C) Yuk Chai, Selangor, were presented with the Silver Award and Macao Special Award.
A total of 78 entries for HKISIIC were selected from 200 Hong Kong primary schools, while the rest were from international schools, including those in China, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan and Macao.
Aimed at establishing an innovative invention learning platform for primary schools while fostering cross-regional cultural exchange, the contest – organised by the Yan Chai Hospital Board – was sponsored by the Tan Siu Lin Foundation.
The submissions were judged based on innovativeness, practicality and presentation, a press release from MINDS read.
MINDS president and academician Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Dr Augustine S.H. Ong encouraged young scientists in Malaysia to continue their journey in innovation and creativity.
MINDS, he said, has been organising the annual International Invention,Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) for the past 30 years to provide a platform for inventors to showcase their ideas.
This year, ITEX 2025 will be held from May 29 to 31 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).
For details, visit itex.com.my/.
