MIRI: Witnessing a record-breaking participation of 966 students and 322 teachers nationwide, the BugCrusher 2024 National Finals concluded in a thrilling ceremony at Chung Hua Middle School here recently.
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, lauded the event for providing a platform for young minds to collaborate and solve real-world problems through coding.
“Competitions like BugCrusher not only drive improvement but also provide you with an opportunity to gauge your skills and knowledge against those of your peers.
“They help you understand where you stand and inspire you to continuously enhance your abilities,” he said when officiating at the closing and award ceremony of the BugCrusher Junior Hackathon 2024.
His speech was read by Councillor Leslie Lau.
The emphasis on the 4Cs – communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity – alongside technical coding skills, sets BugCrusher apart as a truly holistic competition.
“This national-level competition goes beyond just coding,” said Ting.
Organised by the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) in collaboration with Realfun Learning Centre, BugCrusher 2024 saw 322 teams battle it out virtually in the first round.
The fiercest 80 teams then progressed to the semifinals.
Twelve top teams from both junior and senior categories showcased their talent in the grand finale, vying for the championship title and the coveted recognition of elite junior programmers.
Representing regions like Penang, Selangor, Kelantan, and Miri, these teams displayed their prowess for a share of the RM23,000 prize pool.
In the primary school category, Team Frontier Technologist from Selangor emerged victorious, bagging the top prize of RM1,800. E-Crystal from Penang and KC Team from SJK(C) Sr Jalan Bharu secured the second and third positions, respectively.
The secondary school category saw Duuuurian from Chung Hua Middle School Miri rise to the challenge and claim the championship title. SENTINELS and Brainstormers from SMK Dato’ Luka followed closely behind, demonstrating exceptional technical skills and strategic thinking.
BugCrusher acknowledged outstanding achievements beyond individual accolades. Special awards were presented for Best Presentation, Best Enhancement, and Best Technology. The invaluable role of educators was also recognised through the ‘Most Supportive Teacher Award.’
Complementing the competition, the Sibu Chung Hua Alumni Association partnered with Curtin University to host a Cybersecurity Awareness Day, featuring engaging activities. This event further highlighted Malaysia’s burgeoning talent pool in programming and digital innovation.
BugCrusher 2024 served not only as a celebration of young programmers’ achievements but also as a powerful advocate for STEM education. SDEC and Realfun Learning Centre expressed their enthusiasm for expanding participation and inspiring more students to explore the exciting realms of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
In line with Sarawak’s digitalisation and innovation initiatives, SDEC announced plans to establish multiple STEM communities, leveraging the success of programs like ‘Science on Wheels.’ These communities aim to cultivate a culture of exploration and innovation among local students and educators, nurturing the next generation of STEM leaders.
By empowering educators and students, SDEC looks forward to fostering a robust STEM ecosystem in Sarawak, preparing the next generation to contribute meaningfully to the ever-evolving technological landscape.
