Ten students from SMK Chung Hua (CF) Miri have earned the opportunity to represent Malaysia in Houston after Team REFINITY won the overall title at FIRST LEGO League Malaysia 2026. The next destination is the FIRST LEGO League World Festival, part of the FIRST Championship 2027, scheduled for April 28 to May 1 in Houston, Texas. The result is a national championship and a place on the international stage, not a world title already won. DayakDaily reported that the Malaysian competition was held on Oct 25 at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology in Kuala Lumpur. Organised by Sasbadi Holdings Berhad, its 17th edition brought together 920 young participants, including a team from Hong Kong. This year’s UNEARTHED theme asked teams to tackle archaeology-related challenges through science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Work involved robot design and programming alongside scientific investigation and creative problem-solving. For Sarawak’s school robotics community, REFINITY’s result also illustrates the breadth of the contest: communication, collaboration and critical thinking were assessed alongside technical performance. The Miri team was supported by a local coach and accompanying schoolteachers. With the Malaysian title secured, preparation now turns to the 2027 World Festival. The national win establishes the opportunity to compete; it does not determine the outcome in Houston.

Sarawak students Matthew Cheong and Timothy Cheong have taken second place in the RoboMission Junior category at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) 2026 Open Championship Europe in Zagreb, Croatia. The brothers, who attend Borneo International School, competed as team “Malaysia Boleh”. DayakDaily reported their result on Oct 17, following the championship held from Oct 13 to 16. The result is a category placing at the Europe open championship, rather than a claim to an overall WRO world ranking. Their preparation took place closer to home: Miri-based robotics centre TESSLAB trained the team in robot design, coding and competition strategy. The Sarawak government supported their participation through the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation. The championship drew more than 220 teams from 45 countries. The brothers’ result gives Sarawak’s school-age robotics scene an international competition milestone, with local training and state-backed participation both part of the route to Zagreb.

Sarawak TVET students brought home a runner-up finish at an international robotics championship in Taiwan — proving Malaysian technical talent can shine on the world stage. Students from Matang Vocational College (KVM) competed in the STVE x MARC Open Championship 2026 at the National Taiwan Science Education Centre in Taipei from May 30-31. They won the Finalist Alliance Award in the League of Mecha-Clash (LOM) category. The championship drew top robotics teams from multiple countries, challenging participants in robot design, programming, engineering, and strategic problem-solving. KVM's team advanced all the way to the final round before securing second place. The League of Mecha-Clash requires teams to build robots capable of completing tasks through both autonomous operation and manual control. Success depends not just on technical skill but on teamwork and real-time coordination with alliance partners. KVM said the achievement reflects the dedication and perseverance of both students and mentors throughout the preparation period. It also highlights the ability of Malaysia's TVET students to compete internationally in robotics and emerging tech. [image: 1781053387272-robotics-team.jpg] KVM's robotics team with their award in Taiwan. The college hopes this international recognition will inspire more students to pursue excellence in TVET — especially in robotics, automation, and AI. Location: Matang Vocational College (KVM), Kuching / Taipei, Taiwan Details: Runner-up (Finalist Alliance Award), STVE x MARC Open Championship 2026, League of Mecha-Clash category Source: https://www.theborneopost.com/2026/06/10/sarawak-tvet-students-earn-global-accolade-for-robotics-excellence-in-taiwan/ What do you think?

Matang Vocational College robotics team wins Finalist Alliance Award at Taipei international championship. Sarawak TVET students have proven they can compete with the best in the world. A team from Matang Vocational College took second place (Finalist Alliance Award) at the STVE x MARC Open Championship 2026 in Taipei, Taiwan. The competition, held May 30-31 at the National Taiwan Science Education Centre, brought together top robotics teams from multiple countries. The League of Mecha-Clash (LOM) category required teams to build high-performance robots capable of both autonomous and manual operation. Strategic alliance-building and real-time teamwork were key factors in advancing through rounds. This achievement puts Sarawak vocational education on the global map, showing that TVET students here have the skills and innovation to match international standards in robotics, AI, and engineering. [image: 1780985127813-robotics-team.jpg] Source: Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) What do you think? Should Sarawak invest more in TVET and robotics education?