KOTA KINABALU: An affordable, eco-friendly road safety system that uses AI-powered monitoring to detect risky driving behaviours developed by students of SM Sung Siew Sandakan here is the national champion for Shell NXplorers Malaysia 2026.
The students, under the team name Triangle, beat dozens of others nationwide and were announced the winners at the closing ceremony here, Friday (Oct 30).
Triangle’s members Ivan Lam Jun Yin, Alan Romeo Roy Joseph Boguli and Izz Iqbal Rizqin Mohd Shamsulto created the award-winning DriveShield with the aim to break down communication barriers in Malaysia.
They said that this system helps detect dangerous driving behaviours such as drowsiness, mobile phone use, smoking and alcohol consumption by activating its LED and alarm system in the car.
This system is solar-powered with instant alerts and incident tracking and encourages safer driving habits.
It also has the potential to support the deaf and hard-of-hearing community across Malaysia.
The team said winning the Shell NXplorers Malaysia finals is a proud moment for them, but seeing their idea become a solution that can make a difference makes it even more meaningful.
“Shell NXplorers challenged us to look at problems from different perspectives, think beyond the obvious and turn our ideas into action. This experience has built our confidence and inspired us to create solutions that can make a difference in our communities,” they shared.
As the national champion, Triangle will receive an all-expenses-paid learning trip to Seoul, South Korea.
The first runner up title was won by Theory from SMK bandar Bintulu for their invention ElderCare AI and the Best Presenter award went to Alvee Aylwin Tan from SM All Saints for his compelling delivery and clear, insightful explanation of the team’s innovation.
Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick, who is also Sabah’s Industry, Entrepreneurship, and Transport Minister, when officiating the event, said as Malaysia advances towards a more innovation-driven and technology-enabled economy, developing future-ready talent must remain a national priority.
“The world our young people are entering is changing faster than ever before. Advances in technology, artificial intelligence, digitalisation and the global energy transition are reshaping industries and creating new opportunities, while also presenting new challenges,” he said.
To succeed in this environment, youths will need more than academic knowledge, he said, adding they must be able to think critically, solve complex problems, collaborate effectively and adapt confidently to change.
This is why quality education, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM, is so important, said Ewon.
Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd managing director Shairan Huzani Husain said the champions won due to their creativity, collaboration and innovative approach in solving real-world challenges.
He said through Shell NXplorers, young people are challenged to think differently about complex issues across food, water and energy, building critical thinking, STEM and problem-solving skills to help shape solutions for the future.
“Every breakthrough begins with the courage to ask, ‘What if we did things differently?’ That spirit is at the heart of Shell NXplorers.
“Seeing students transform complex challenges into creative and practical solutions shows us the remarkable potential of young people when curiosity is matched with the right skills and opportunities,” said Shairan.
He said Shell NXplorers is about nurturing that potential and empowering students to become confident problem-solvers who can help shape a better future.
Six schools, two finalists each from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak participated in the national finals after emerging state winners and runners up at their respective state level competitions.
The finalist schools were SMK Lutong, SMK Bandar Bintulu, SMK Vivekananda, Kuala Lumpur, SMK Tengku Idris Shah, Selangor, SM Sung Siew and SM All Saints.
Reaching more than 1,000 students across 29 secondary schools nationwide, Shell NXplorers Malaysia brings STEM to life by encouraging students to explore challenges, think critically and develop innovative solutions.
Supported by the Education Ministry, the programme combines technology, creativity and collaboration to equip young people with practical skills to address real-world challenges.
