SIG HCISE: the Sentuhan Daya Cipta MADANI (SEDIA) innovation program

Translated from Malay. This story was first published by Pengajian Kejuruteraan Kimia (School of Chemical Engineering), UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang, on 24 January 2026. As community service, senior lecturer Ir Ts Mohamed Syazwan Bin Osman of the School of Chemical Engineering and other lecturers in the Special Interest Group (SIG) Human Capital, Innovation & Social Engagement (HCISE) worked for several months to run the Sentuhan Daya Cipta MADANI (SEDIA) innovation program. Their efforts led 14 Form 1–2 pupils from 11 schools in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency to win at the IPITEX 2026 innovation competition in Bangkok. The pupils were celebrated when invited to the MADANI Cultural Carnival at SMK Permatang Pasir. The delegation was honored by YAB Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Utama Anwar Ibrahim, who signed mementos and posed for photographs with these young people, the future of Permatang Pauh. The SEDIA team thanks the Prime Minister for the funding that allowed us to mentor these pupils, in particular at the School of Chemical Engineering, UiTMCPP, and the EMZI NANO-CORE industrial research laboratory, through the Penang Bumiputera Development Council. Our thanks also go to the Director-General of the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU), Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Sollehuddin Alyubi Zakaria, who encouraged the delegation; to Dr Haji Syaharudin Shah Bin Mohd Noor, Director of the Penang Bumiputera Participation Coordination Division; and to all BPPBPP staff for their strong support for the SEDIA team. We also thank the Penang State Education Department and the management of UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang, led by Rector Professor Dato’ Ir. Dr. Haji Ahmad Rashidy Razali, for their support. Finally, our thanks to everyone involved, including Dr Syafiq of EMZI Holding Sdn Bhd, and the EH950 PhD students and EH225 environmental chemical engineering undergraduates who mentored the pupils during their innovation projects. We hope this experience and inspiration stay with the young people of Permatang Pauh and strengthen their determination to succeed, especially in STEM fields. Special thanks to the SEDIA team members who drove and delivered the program:

• Dr Adi Izhar Che Ani
• Ir Ts Mohamed Syazwan Osman
• Gs Dr Fathinul Najib Ahmad Saad
• Assoc. Prof. Ir Ts Dr Samsul Setumin
• Ts Nor Haniza Bakhtiar Jemily
• Mohd Syafiq Abdul Rahman
• Mawardi Omar
• Suhaiza Hassan

Source: original story on the Pengajian Kejuruteraan Kimia, UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang website (in Malay).