Four primary school students from Jementah, Segamat, Johor, have recently emerged champions at a national robotics competition — a result that not only highlights their talent, but also reflects the quiet groundwork laid by their assemblywoman, Ng Kor Sim, in promoting STEM education in her constituency.
Made up of teams of two, they clinched the first and second prizes in the PROBO Line Tracer Senior category at the National Robotics League (NRL) 2025, held at Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru between 30th May to 1st June 2025.
The first-prize winners were Tan Hong Jun from SJKC Jementah 1 and Vince Lee Voo Hee from SJKC Jabi, while Yew Chen Xu from SJKC Jementah 1 and Kayden Yeo Vv Jay finished in second place.
All four are part of an initiative by Ng to promote coding among students in her constituency, which she started in 2023.
The champions won RM1,000 in prize money while the first-runner up team won RM500. All four students are aged between 10 and 12 and this was their first time entering a robotics programming competition.
For Ng, the win is deeply meaningful. “I’m so proud of them,” she said. “They’ve proven that even students from small towns like Jementah can shine on a national stage.”
Their category saw 15 teams competing, with participants required to code autonomous robots that could follow lines, detect obstacles and make complex turns — testing not only the competitors’ programming skills but also logical thinking and precision.
Ng’s office contributes RM50 per student per month, with additional support of RM30 per student from Zeniustech, a local education tech company, to teach students in Jementah coding. To date, her office has sponsored around 20 students.
“Not every child gets access to this kind of exposure,” Ng said. “That’s why I’ve tried to help those who are interested but may not have the means.”
The win, she added, was not just about medals.
“It’s about giving our kids confidence and laying the foundations in STEM for them. They learn to solve problems, work as a team, and believe they can compete with the best,” she said.
The NRL 2025 drew more than 500 teams and 460 participants nationwide, competing across 14 categories with RM35,000 in prizes. The event was organised by Zeniustech and supported by international partners, including South Korean educational robotics firm Alux.
Ng believes early exposure to STEM subjects, especially coding and robotics, can play a key role in preparing students for the future.
“STEM isn’t just a buzzword. It’s something real, and it should be accessible to all, not just kids in big cities,” she said.
Ng hopes to continue expanding support for tech education in Jementah, either through direct sponsorships or school-based programmes.
“If the interest is there, we’ll find a way to support it,” she said.
Reflecting on the achievement, Ng said the students’ dedication and performance have set an example for others in the community.
“They’ve shown what’s possible. I hope more young people in Jementah will be inspired to try,” she said.
