(From left) Teo, teacher Wong Huang Yew, Richard, Vanessa, Emmelyn, and Jumari are seen with their prizes.
Members of SMK Merbau’s team (from left) Richard, Vanessa and Emmelyn pose with their prizes in a photo call.
MIRI: A team from SMK Merbau which took part at the Kaohsiung International Invention & Design Expo (KIDE) 2019 in Taiwan from Dec 6 to 8 has won several awards.
The team comprising Vanessa Serawa Suel, Richard Laing, and Emmelyn Manyie Sibat won the gold medal in the World Invention Intellectual Property Associations (WIIPA), and a special award from Norton University Kingdom of Cambodia Nation Religion King for inventing a pair of gloves named Evra Smart-G.
“At first, we could not believe we won. After all, we were competing with many high schools and even universities from around the world, from Romania, Croatia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and many more.
“However, our hard work has paid off with the gold medal and the special award. We are extremely happy for winning the competition,” their accompanying teacher Teo Fung Yong said when contacted yesterday.
Teo said the pair of gloves were in fact an educational item, which has the same function as a duster.
“The purpose of this invention is to encourage the young people to save the environment and reduce the amount of plastic thrown away as ordinary dusters,” she added.
Teo also thanked Miri MP Dr Michael Teo, Transport Minister and Senadin assemblyman Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Bumiputera (Tegas), Sarawak Oil Palms Berhad (SOPB), SMK Merbau principal Jumari Hashim, and all those who supported the school throughout the years.