KOTA KINABALU, SABAH – The BEM Open Day 2025, organized by the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), successfully showcased the creativity, innovation, and presentation skills of secondary school students from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Held on 24 September 2025 at the Kota Kinabalu Marriott Hotel, the event brought together eight schools for an exciting sharing session and STEM Competition, providing a platform for students to demonstrate their problem-solving abilities, creativity and engineering ideas.
The participating schools were:
• Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan SANZAC
• Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Shan Tao
• Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan St. Francis Convent
• Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Perempuan Likas
• Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Likas
• Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pulau Gaya
• Kolej Vokasional Likas, Kota Kinabalu
• Sekolah Menengah Maktab Sabah
The STEM Competition began with an energizing briefing delivered by YBrs. Ir. Abdul Razak bin Yakob, Lead Facilitator, setting the tone for a day of innovation and collaboration. Students not only worked on their projects but also presented their solutions to a panel of distinguished judges — an important exercise in building their confidence, communication, and presentation skills.
The panel of judges comprised:
• YBhg. Datuk Ir. Mohd Adnan bin Mohd Nor, Member, National Monitoring Committee / Chairman, WG on International Trade (Chief Judge)
• YBhg. First Admiral Dato’ Ir. (Dr) Ahmad Murad bin Omar (Retired), Member, Corporate Communication Committee / Chairman, WG on BEM Outreach • YBhg. Datuk Ir. Abdul Rahim bin Hashim, Member, National Monitoring Committee / Chairman, Sub-WG on BEM Strategic Plan M3.1.2
• Ir. Sharifah Azlina binti Raja Kamal Pasmah, Member, National Monitoring Committee / Chief Executive Officer, HSS Engineering Sdn Bhd
Students were challenged with two engineering tasks:
1. Civil Structure Challenge – each school designed and built a civil structure capable of supporting two coffee table books and 10 bottles of mineral water.
2. Electrical Circuit Challenge – students created functional electrical circuits demonstrating creativity, problem-solving skills, and practical engineering knowledge.
In the afternoon, participants attended an inspiring sharing session titled “Engineering Your Future – Choosing the Right Start”, moderated by Ir. Mohd Noramil bin Mohd Daril, BEM Executive Director. The session featured three industry leaders:
• YBhg. Dato’ Paduka Ir. (Dr) Keizrul bin Abdullah, Tokoh Kejuruteraan Negara 2024
• YBhg. Datuk Ir. Mohd Adnan bin Mohd Nor, Chairman, RPM Engineers Sdn Bhd / BEM Member, National Monitoring Committee
• Ir. Sharifah Azlina binti Raja Kamal Pasmah, CEO, HSS Engineering Sdn Bhd / BEM Member, National Monitoring Committee
This session not only inspired students with valuable insights into pursuing opportunities and building careers in engineering and technology, but also highlighted the role of BEM in guiding future engineers. BEM provides essential information on engineering pathways, oversees the registration of engineers in Malaysia, and supports the professional growth of engineers to meet national and global challenges.
After rigorous judging, the top three winners of the STEM Competition were announced:
1. First Prize: Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan St. Francis Convent
2. Second Prize: Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan SANZAC
3. Third Prize: Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Likas
The competition not only recognized outstanding creativity, teamwork, and innovation but also emphasized the importance of communication and presentation skills in showcasing engineering solutions. These combined elements reflect the next generation of engineering talent in Malaysia.
The BEM Open Day 2025 successfully inspired secondary school students to explore STEM fields, pursue careers in engineering, and embrace innovation, while underscoring BEM’s commitment to nurturing confident, future-ready engineers who will drive Malaysia’s development.