KOTA KINABALU: A trio walked home with best project awards when their Transbot earned most merits from the judges in yesterday’s concluded 36-hour Bayu Hackathon.

Pitched by Amir Kusyairie bin Arif, Brandon Ujin and Munira binti Muhamad, their Transbot is about public transportation scheduling and booking system via Whatsapp chatbot.

It is developed based on United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 –Sustainable Cities and Communities. 

The team also received the Jury’s Award for their innovative and well-founded idea. 

As for Donna Moncigil Losantas, Joeyanatasa Jona Dapanis and Muhd. Khuzairee Ekmal Samsudin, they were awarded the Best Idea Award with its Borneo Swift, a bus tracking system to manage traffic congestion.

The Best Business Pitch Award went to Mohd Rona Abd Kasim, Dr. Fatimah Sabrina binti Moahmmad, Meriah Osman with its Sabah Disaster Preparedness Management (SDPM) dashboard for flood control management. 

Bayu Hackathon is collaborative program of Forest Interactive Foundation, Jawala Plantation Industries, and Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Sabah. 

The programme aims to drive diverse and inclusive digital growth by equipping the participants with specialised digital skills, increasing employment opportunities, and addressing the digital talent shortage in Malaysia. 

The hackathon is part of Forest Interactive Foundation’s mission to provide educational platforms that are aligned with the industrial demands and ensure our youths are able to keep pace with technological advancements. 

With 51 shortlisted participants from Sabah, 17 groups came together to develop innovative and sustainable living solutions that address either United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 – Quality Education, 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, or 15 – Life on Land, centered on Sabah’s community issues such as accessibility to public transport and quality education. 

“With the goal of developing future innovators in a fast-changing world, Forest Interactive Foundation shapes sustainable initiatives that can help students prepare for a future where they can thrive with technology. 

I am truly glad to see such talent and enthusiasm within our participants and commend them for the innovation they have put forth in this challenge,” said Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Forest Interactive Foundation Johary Mustapha.

Sabah Science, Technology and Innovation minister Datuk Yakub Khan said the programme is in line with our Sabah Maju Jaya ambitions to equip the community with digital skills and knowledge, as well as to nurture an intellectual, creative and innovative community.

“The challenges put forth in Bayu Hackathon reflect the real-world problems that we need to overcome with smart and innovative solutions. 

“I welcome more public-private collaborations of such that will allow Sabah to continue being competitive in the technology industry,” he said during the closing on July 31.

The hackathon also featured two workshops titled Persediaan Melangkah Ke Alam Pekerjaan (Preparation to Enter the Workforce) by Yusri Bin Md Yusof, Founder & Consultant of Iman Consultant, and Pitching Workshop by Saverinus Kitingan, Co-Founder of Sabah Techpreneur Association (SATA).