For subscribers
Letter From Kuala Lumpur
From TikTok to trophies: Malaysia’s science influencers, robotics contests nudge students towards STEM
Sign up now: Get insights on the biggest stories in Malaysia
Young Malaysian students compete in the International Robot Challenge 2025 in Beijing in August.
ST PHOTO: HAZLIN HASSAN
Follow topic:
- Malaysian students are excelling in international robotics competitions, driving interest in STEM.
- Malay-language science influencers on TikTok and YouTube are making STEM more accessible and engaging for young Malaysians.
- Despite successes, educators say Malaysia faces challenges in PISA scores, talent retention, and uneven access to resources for sustained STEM engagement.
AI generated
KUALA LUMPUR - One afternoon in 2025, 11-year-old Qaseh Allysa Balqis Sidin was developing robot designs equipped with sensors at her school in Kluang, Johor. Months later, she and her two teammates celebrated their gold-medal win – beating competitors from 15 other countries – at an international robotics competition in Australia.
The trio’s victory in December is part of a broader shift unfolding in Malaysia, where interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is being fuelled not only by classroom learning, but also by hands-on robotics contests and a new generation of Malay-language science influencers on TikTok and YouTube. Together, these forces are making science more visible, accessible and entertaining for young Malaysians, even as deeper challenges in education quality and talent retention remain.
