SHAH ALAM: The PKNS Robotic Challenge 2026 has provided a valuable opportunity for students with disabilities to develop soft skills and build self-confidence through teamwork, says teacher Suhana Abu Bakar.
Suhana, who is the teacher-in-charge from SMK Seksyen 19, said the technology- and innovation-based programme served as an ideal platform for students to develop their talents in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
“Opportunities to participate in competitions like this can be difficult to come by as students with disabilities are sometimes reluctant to socialise, with some of them usually unwilling to mix with others. However, when they took part in this competition, they were able to work well together as a team.
“The participation of four students with disabilities aged between 13 and 15 from our school, who have autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and multiple disabilities, also enabled them to overcome their awkwardness and gain the confidence to interact with people outside their usual environment,” she told Bernama after her team received the Soft Skills Award at the closing ceremony of the PKNS Robotic Challenge 2026 here yesterday.
Also present were Selangor Islamic Affairs and Innovation Culture Committee chairman Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah and PKNS Group chief executive officer Datuk Mahmud Abbas.
Suhana said participation in the competition also helped shape the students’ character and build their confidence, particularly when they had to make presentations in front of an audience.
She said multimedia and technology were now among the areas of growing interest among parents of students in the Integrated Special Education Programme, given the strong interest of children with autism in gadgets and technology.
Mahmud said as part of the state government’s efforts to promote STEM, PKNS aims to create initiatives that would provide long-term benefits to the younger generation and produce more competitive human capital capable of excelling in innovation at the global level.
“I hope that in the future we will see robots carrying out cleaning work at Aneka Walk and driverless buses travelling between the business centres around Kompleks PKNS, hotels and surrounding areas.
“Driverless buses are already being used in Japan, and no other country, including Malaysia, Indonesia or Singapore, has done so. Let us be the first to do it.”
Mahmud stressed that the provision of various facilities and the organisation of technology-based programmes should not merely be about filling vacant spaces or serving as recreational activities but should incorporate practical learning elements.
He said PKNS is committed to providing a conducive environment, ambience and business areas to support the development of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Such an ecosystem would enable the community, particularly the younger generation, to make the most of the business and technology opportunities provided, Mahmud said.
The two-day competition, organised by the PKNS Innovation Division, attracted 48 students from 12 secondary schools in Selangor under the Battle Soccerbot Challenge concept, which tested participants’ ability to design and operate robots using automation technology, programming and three-dimensional printing.
SMK La Salle Petaling Jaya emerged champion, followed by SMK Seksyen 9 in second place.
