Where Talent Meets Success: Han Chiang High School Prodigies Showcase Exceptional Project to Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim

Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships. – Michael Jordan

Three students from Han Chiang High School, namely Ong Chong Yao (SE22), Quah Yi Jie (SE22), and Mok Zi Xuan (SE21), showcased their project at the recent exhibition held at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Their innovative project, the Smart Home A-Eye Bin, gained significant attention, and they had the distinct honour of presenting it to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, on the 16th of January 2024. They were interviewed about their path to glory when notified about their success.

Before their impressive exhibition at Universiti Putra Malaysia, these three talented students had already established themselves as champions in the 2023 Intel Competition. The journey to success was not without its challenges, as they dedicated themselves to refining and perfecting their project. Balancing their academic commitments, they often devote their precious time to their creation.

Amid preparations, the team faced a critical moment during the Intel Competition when their project encountered a malfunction during testing. Undeterred, Ong Chong Yao, one of the team members, exhibited unwavering determination. Recalling the intensity of the situation, he revealed that he sacrificed a night’s sleep to address the bug, ultimately ensuring the project’s functionality.

The team entered the 2023 Intel Competition with a mindset focused on delivering a smooth presentation. Winning was not a foreseen outcome, and they were pleasantly surprised when they were announced as winners. Little did they anticipate that their journey from a successful competition would extend to a presentation to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, making this experience even more remarkable.

The opportunity to present their project to the Prime Minister left all three students, Ong Chong Yao, Quah Yi Jie, and Mok Zi Xuan, with an overwhelming sense of awe and gratitude. They collectively expressed that this experience felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, acknowledging the rarity of having the chance to showcase their creation to the highest echelon of political leadership. Grateful for the opportunity to share their innovative project with the Prime Minister, the students recognised the exceptional nature of this opportunity, marking a milestone in their academic and innovative journey. 

Moreover, they were very proud of their presentation as they thought their hard work had paid off. They exclaimed that they felt a sense of accomplishment after coming a long way, presenting to the Malaysia Prime Minister. While they are proud of themselves, they acknowledge areas of potential growth. One of their team members, Quah Yi Jie, highlighted that he often stutters during presentations due to a lack of confidence. However, during this particular event, this did not happen often.

They claimed that their coach, Mr Yap didn’t interfere with their exhibition, as he wanted to develop their independent skills that would be essential in their future. But when the team had issues that needed to be sorted out, Mr Yap was always an unwavering pillar of support. Investing his time and effort, he became a crucial figure in ensuring the team’s success, helping them achieve the impossible.

In offering guidance to aspiring students, they emphasize the importance of actively participating in competitions. They stress that making mistakes is an unavoidable aspect of the learning process and a critical component of personal growth. According to them, the journey towards improvement and success involves embracing challenges and learning from errors. Additionally, the trio expresses heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Wah and Ms. Peggy, acknowledging their pivotal role in enhancing the team’s fluency in English during presentations. Without Dr. Wah and Ms. Peggy, the students believe they wouldn’t have become this impressive.

The Project– the Smart Home A-Eye Bin

Their project– the Smart Home A-Eye Bin, was a rubbish bin that can automatically solve your cache using artificial intelligence. It was sorted into three categories as of right now, which are paper, plastic and metal. Ong Chong Yao, one of the team members, had addressed the deficient waste management near his house, which bothered him to see all the mixed-up trash that was difficult to recycle. That inspired him to start a project and to promote an effective way to sort out the rubbish. Therefore, he and his other team members decided to create the Smart Home A-Eye Bin to solve the problem of improper disposal.