KUCHING: A team from Kuching Polytechnic yesterday beat 17 other teams from different public and private institutions of higher learning here with its invention entitled “Foot Braces for Cerebral Palsy Patient” to emerge champion in the “Creating New Out Of Old Competition” held at Sarawak Skills Development Centre (PPKS) here.
The competition, held in conjunction with the upcoming State Level Nat ional Envi ronment Celebration 2017, was organised by the Department of Environment Sarawak in collaboration with Trinekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd and PPKS. The team members comprised Hazmil Sazali, Abdul Razak Abdul Rahim and Magdelina Ann Elves.
The invention, which made use of used car oil bottles, was described as the best invention as it reduced the cost of a pair of foot braces to only RM20 from RM1,000 originally. “It is very much helpful for those who can’t afford to buy the specialised custom made braces which cost RM1,000 a pair and take a long time to make.
“The main aim of our product is to give them an idea of how to make the braces themselves. They can just buy the used car oil bottles from any car workshop and cut them by following the shape of the legs. “They can use sponges to make the braces more comfortable and wrap the inside part with cloth and leather,” the team explained.
The Kuching Polytechnic team brought home RM500 cash, a trophy and a certificate of participation. Meanwhile, the second placing was won by a team from Samarahan Industrial Training Institute (ILP), with its invention entitled “Window Frames.”
The team went home with RM400 cash, a trophy and a certificate of participation. Another team, also from Kuching Polytechnic, captured the third placing with its invention entitled “Ottomen Seat”; it went home with RM300 cash, a trophy and a certificate of participation. The competition and the prize giving ceremony were graced by the State Director of the Department of Environment, Mohd Hidzir Bakar.
He explained the objective of the event was to make the young generation aware of the importance of preserving the environment through recycling, reusing and efficient management of wastes. “This is the platform for our department to promote love of nature to people from all walks of life,” added Hidzir.
Meanwhile, Trienekens’ Chief Operating Officer, Alice Lee said the company had been organising the “Creating New Out Of Old Competitions independently with schools before. “It is our aim to raise awareness of the importance of preserving our natural resources by converting or re-purposing discarded or unwanted wastes into something new and usable,” she said.
