Changing the world with robots
ISKANDAR PUTERI: What started as a love for animated science fiction has evolved to passion for robotics for 14-year-old Ethan Ling.
The SMJK Nan Hwa student from Sitiawan, Perak said when he was younger, he would watch science fiction movies that have robots in them.
'I have always liked watching robot-themed animations because that is how I see the world will look like in the future.
'Since I am passionate about robots, my school teachers and family really encouraged me to try robotics when I was 11, and since then I have learned so much,' he said when met during the International Youth Robot Competition (IYRC) Asean 2025 at the EduCity Sports Complex here yesterday.
The competition saw over 800 young innovators from seven Asean countries taking part in the two-day event.
He added that he saw IYRC Asean 2025 as more than just a competition among fellow robotics enthusiasts from around the region, but a glimpse into a future he hopes to help build one day.
'Robots are already changing the world. I believe that they can be used to bring benefit to humans.
'I want to be part of that change, maybe as a programmer, but if that does not work out, I would love to be a 3D animator creating robot-themed animation,' he said.
Another participant is 13-year-old Abrielle Siow, from SMK Convent Teluk Intan, Perak, where creating a robot from scratch was a fun challenge for her.
'Learning how to build and code robots is fun. But sometimes it is really hard, especially when the coding part does not go right.
'Now, whenever I go to a bookshop, I will buy some books to learn more about programming, including for this competition where I spent two months in training as part of my preparation,' she said.
Abrielle added that she was looking forward to face other programmers in the competition as it was her first time competing at an Asean-level robotics event.
She said that this was her fourth robotics competition and had participated in several state-level competitions before.
'My dream is to become a doctor like my parents. But maybe one day, I can create robotic technology to help treat people, which would be really cool,' she added.
Meanwhile, IYRC Asean 2025 organising chairwoman Olivia Ooi said the competition was a celebration of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and talents across borders.
'IYRC Asean 2025 is more than just a contest as it ignites the imagination, nurtures friendships and shapes the region's future through collaboration and creativity,' she added.
Ooi also thanked the Johor government, sponsors, educators and parents for their unwavering support in making the event possible.
She said such cooperation has helped shaped future global citizens, where their unwavering commitment to youth development and innovation help drives such initiative forward.
'As Asean continues to emerge as a global hub for innovation and talent, IYRC Asean 2025 stands as a testament to the region's commitment to cross-border collaboration, digital readiness and investment in the next generation of problem-solvers,' she added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Children with SCID are born defenceless against infections
As a parent, you'd probably never guess that if your child repeatedly gets an infection, it could be due to a genetic disorder. Even medical practitioners may not be aware of this. Primary immunodeficiencies – now often referred to as inborn errors of immunity (IEI) – are a group of more than 500 rare, inherited conditions where a part of the immune system is missing or severely impaired. These genetic flaws can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or race, leading to an increased susceptibility to infections, autoimmune diseases or other immune problems. The infections may show up in the skin, sinuses, throat, ears, lungs, brain, spinal cord, or in the urinary or intestinal tracts. IEI patients often have repeated infections, infections that won't clear up, or unusually severe infections. They can also present with tumours, severe allergies, multiple enlarged lymph nodes or an enlarged liver. Researchers are discovering more and more IEI, with the most common one being antibody deficiency. Antibodies are proteins that protect you when unwanted substances such as bacteria, viruses and toxins enter your body. 'Some people may have mild IEI, but do not display any symptoms. 'Perhaps those with recurrent episodes of upper respiratory tract infection [URTI] could have it, but they don't know because they have never done a blood test to check if there is a problem with the function of antibodies,' says Hospital Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (HSAAS) consultant paediatrician and clinical immunologist and allergist Associate Professor Dr Intan Hakimah Ismail. An emergency situation Prof Intan says babies with SCID seldom live past a year old without a bone marrow transplant due to the frequent infections they get. — Photos: GLENN GUAN/The Star Out of all the IEI, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is the most critical one. This condition impacts the T cells, as well as the B cells and natural killer cells – all immune cells that originate from the bone marrow and are crucial for fighting off infections. Infants with SCID appear healthy at birth, but are highly vulnerable to severe and potentially fatal infections. Usually, the prognosis is poor, as babies don't live past a year unless they get a bone marrow transplant. Says Assoc Prof Intan: 'We consider SCID as a paediatric emergency, so we have to go all out to get them a transplant as quickly as possible. 'With other IEI, there is time to discuss a transplant, but here, there is no time – they will die. 'The majority of SCID babies will have an infection within the first few weeks of life. 'This can include URTI, pneumonia, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, fungal infection, oral thrush, pus at the BCG vaccination site, etc.' If the baby has had only one episode of infection, it may be hard for the paediatrician to make the right diagnosis. Only after repeated infections may the doctor suspect something amiss and order further blood tests to check. Possible to cure While breastfeeding is generally beneficial for infants, it can pose risks for babies with SCID due to the potential transmission of cytomegalovirus through breast milk. Treatment for SCID includes intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) replacement therapy, enzyme replacement therapy and gene therapy, but the latter two are not available in Malaysia. ALSO READ: New gene therapy shows promise against 'bubble boy' disease At HSAAS, once a SCID child is diagnosed or referred from other hospitals, they are started on IVIG immediately, along with antibiotics, antifungals and anti-tuberculosis drugs to prevent infection. 'If they have recurrent viral infections, we also start them on antiviral medications – all these are temporary solutions while waiting for a bone marrow transplant for a cure. 'The ideal donors are usually the siblings [without SCID] as they are likely to have a 100% genetic match. 'If not, the parents come next or someone unrelated with a 100% genetic match. 'Thankfully, we can now get the donor's stem cells from the peripheral blood instead of the bone marrow directly, which is a less invasive procedure. 'The child has to be infection-free as much as possible before the transplant, but in some situations, this is not possible, so if the infection is minimal, the transplant can proceed,' explains Assoc Prof Intan. In most instances, only one transplant is required for a cure. Inaccurate numbers Currently, like most rare diseases, there is no national registry for IEI or SCID. Jaasritha is not out of the woods yet and still needs IVIG treatment monthly, but Manonmani is happy that her baby's smile has returned. The prevalence of SCID worldwide is estimated to be one in 50,000 to 100,000 live births. Based on that statistic, Malaysia should have 60-100 cases annually. However, this number might be an underestimate, as some cases may be missed due to death before diagnosis. 'In UPM [Universiti Putra Malaysia], I have my own data in our centre and we are only picking up three to four cases a year. 'Although we are the leading IEI referral centre in the country, not all cases are referred to us. 'Our data from 2012 shows we have more than 1,000 IEI cases, but for SCID alone, it's 44, so we're definitely missing out on the actual numbers,' says Assoc Prof Intan. That's why she is fighting hard to get newborns screened for SCID, She says: 'We had two cases where the first child was born and died within three or four months. 'It was the same story with the second child, and only when the couple had their third child, we diagnosed the infant with SCID. 'The treating doctor didn't think of SCID as a possibility, or maybe he wasn't aware of the disease. 'Sometimes, the child may be too sick to travel to HSAAS, so we ask the hospitals to send us their blood sample first, as we have labs here that can deliver the results within 24 hours.' ALSO READ: Doctors essential in driving access for rare disease treatment 'Blessed child' When Jaasritha Sai was born in 2023, she weighed 2.1kg – a low birth weight – but she was otherwise healthy. A beautiful, smiley baby, she gained weight quickly, but at three months old, started developing flu symptoms and skin issues. 'We thought her rashes were due to the diapers and we changed the brand, but it didn't help. 'And despite her phlegm, she could drink the whole bottle of milk at one go. 'But suddenly, at six months, Jaasritha would become breathless after drinking two ounces, vomit and purge. 'She became considerably weak and we took her to the hospital's emergency department where she was warded after being diagnosed with pneumonia,' recalls her mother Manonmani Suparamany, 42. Upon discharge, the diarrhoea didn't stop and Jaasritha's weight dropped drastically. Manonmani sensed something was wrong and consulted multiple specialists from various hospitals before she was referred to Assoc Prof Intan, who confirmed a SCID diagnosis. That was in November 2023 when Jaasritha was nine months old. The single mother from Klang, Selangor, says: 'I didn't even know there was such a condition where both parents carry the mutated gene – my world came crumbling down. 'She was immediately started on treatment and had to stay in an isolated room for nine months. 'Everyone who came in had to wear PPE [personal protective equipment] and mask up because she caught a major infection three times.' Manonmani's employer agreed to let her go on unpaid leave to look after her sick child. It was tough being confined to a room for so long and when there was no one watching, the anxiety-ridden Manonmani would cry buckets. As Jaasritha has no siblings, her mother was the next best bone marrow donor. (Her father is not involved with the family.) Alas, Manonmani was only a 50% match – not ideal – and was rejected by Hospital Kuala Lumpur, where Jaasritha was on the wait list for a transplant. Because time was crucial to save Jaasritha's life, Assoc Prof Intan pooled her resources and found an opportunity at the Apollo Cancer Specialty Hospital in Chennai, India. They accepted Manonmani as a donor, but the transplant cost was high at RM200,000. She says: 'Still, it was cheaper than the RM1mil quoted in one local private hospital. 'Since I was utilising my employer's insurance, it did not cover overseas medical expenses, so with the help of the non-profit Malaysian Patients Organisation for Primary Immunodeficiencies (Mypopi), we crowdfunded to raise RM300,000 in a week. 'But the final cost came up to RM415,000 as Jaasritha had to do the transplant thrice due to some complications. 'She didn't do well after the first transplant and lost her smile along the way. "She refused to say any words – that frightened me as I didn't know how I would handle losing her.' It was also a painful process for Manonmani, as she had to be in bed for five hours without moving while her stem cells were being extracted. Finally, Jaasritha was given the green light to fly home after five months. 'In total, we spent 14 months in hospital. 'She's still not out of the woods yet and needs IVIG every month at HSAAS until her antibodies stabilise. 'Since her transplant, she has not caught any infections except Covid-19, but she managed to fight it off, which is a good sign. 'I'm still traumatised and don't like to expose her too much, although I take her to the park when it's not crowded,' says Manonmani. More importantly, Jaasritha's smile has returned and she can now walk, climb stairs and baby talk again at 28 months. Assoc Prof Intan concludes: 'Jaasritha is a blessed child and a fighter indeed.'
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Economists expect 13MP will set out to boost Malaysia's competitiveness
Sunway University economics professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng. KUALA LUMPUR: The 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) is expected to enhance Malaysia's competitiveness by promoting high-value manufacturing through business and investor-friendly policies, say economists. Putra Business School associate professor Dr Ahmed Razman Abdul Latiff said that the 13MP, which serves as the country's indicative development plan from 2026 to 2030, will help stimulate both domestic and foreign investments through policy reforms and incentives. 'The 13MP can position Malaysia as a leader by leveraging existing strengths in manufacturing and semiconductors, driving regional integration through Asean frameworks and adopting strategic regional positioning. 'It should also aim for the advancement of the semiconductor value chain and enhance regional supply chain resilience while not forgetting sustainability and inclusivity among local businesses,' Ahmed Razman said. The 13MP document is scheduled to be tabled at the Dewan Rakyat sitting on July 31 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The prime minister had previously said the 13MP was being formulated with a focus on the economic empowerment of the people through increased income, inclusive and sustainable economic structural reforms, as well as strengthening governance and efficiency in the delivery of public services. In addition, Ahmed Razman said the five-year strategic plan should also promote automation through incentives for technology adoption, support for workforce transitions, and clear and stable policies. 'The 13MP should accelerate digitalisation by investing in digital infrastructure, providing incentives for digital adoption, creating ecosystems and collaboration, as well as strengthening cybersecurity and data governance,' he added. Sunway University economics professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng said the 13MP should prioritise creating and enabling an environment for free markets to thrive and for private enterprises to innovate, compete, and prosper. Yeah noted that Malaysia is expected to transition into a high-income nation, as defined by the World Bank, during the 13MP period from 2026 to 2030. Yeah emphasised that one of the key drivers of this transition is the ongoing expansion of high-value and advanced manufacturing and service sectors. 'The recent increase in foreign direct investment in these areas has enhanced the country's competitiveness and its strategic position as a regional hub for the semiconductor supply chain and data centres. 'In addition to semiconductors and data centres, industries such as artificial intelligence and those related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) are also significant. 'The 13MP is expected to promote structural advancements in other high-growth and high-value industries, including renewable energy, carbon capture and storage, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals,' he said. Yeah added that the 13MP initiatives should also address the increasing demand for more sophisticated and higher-quality services, which will subsequently drive growth in finance, education, healthcare, and aged care. — Bernama
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Anwar calls for AI laws to protect local arts scene
Hot off the press: Anwar with (from left) Kuala Lumpur City Hall chief assistant director (architect) Noor Fazlina Rosley, Dr Wan Azizah, Zunar and Amirudin at the book launch in Shah Alam. — KK SHAM/The Star SHAH ALAM: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has directed two ministries in his Cabinet to protect local creative works from falling prey to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. He said both the Communications Ministry and the Digital Ministry must formulate laws that protect the copyright and authenticity of these works, as well as shield them from vagaries such as plagiarism. If the proliferation of AI technology is not properly regulated, it would negatively impact a multitude of artistic fields and endeavours, he said at the launch of political cartoonist Zunar's autobiography here yesterday. 'It will not only affect cartoonists but also artists, painters, filmmakers and poets. 'Sometimes it (AI) stifles an artist's capabilities and creative capacity,' added Anwar. He said in pursuing measures to protect local creativity, both ministries must also ensure that the nation does not duplicate the mould set by the outside world, but instead cultivate values from within the country to prevent the loss of values and identity. He said the nation's current policies on AI do not separate technology from local values. 'If we want to ensure that AI also emphasises values and what is consistent with our faith, religious beliefs, culture and diversity, our children must be trained in this field,' he said. On another matter, Anwar said there must not be any political interference in matters pertaining to the judiciary as it (the judiciary) must remain independent. However, he said, some of those currently professing to champion the judiciary were once party to political oppression and injustice, adding: 'There must be a clear separation of powers and shared responsibility to save the country.' He also pointed out that the judiciary, which is a noble institution, has also at times been tainted by corruption and abuse of power as shown by history, adding that this was captured and illustrated in Zunar's works. On Zunar's autobiography titled Melukis Dengan Hati: Biografi Perjalanan Seni 50 Tahun Karya Zunar, Anwar said Zunar's work had captured incidents such as the 1MDB scandal. Also at the event were Anwar's wife and Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
