At just 14 years old, Umar Yusuf Muhammad Nizar, a Form 2 student of The Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK), has already found himself standing on a stage where ideas, innovation, and the future of sustainable energy converged.
At ISES 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Umar was given the honour of opening the international summit, addressing an audience that included industry leaders, policymakers, and prominent figures in the energy sector. For a young Koleq student, it was an extraordinary moment. Yet behind that moment lay months of experimentation, perseverance, teamwork, and an unwavering belief in an idea.
Umar, together with his teammates Zahirulhaq, Iqbal, and Hareez, earned first place in the Young Energy Explorer Program (YEEPE) Innovators 2026 with their project, MRGT (Micro Rain Gutter Turbine), an innovative solution designed to harness energy from rainwater that would otherwise go to waste.
The journey began with the team’s selection as finalists under the theme AGUAFLUX. Rather than simply celebrating their place in the finals, the team decided to push their idea further. Night after night, they worked to turn their concept into a functional prototype, while regularly consulting mentors from the SEDA YEEPE programme to deepen their understanding and prepare for the Grand Final presentation.
Their work extended far beyond the prototype itself. The team developed their presentation, produced physical posters, designed their project logo, and explored digital 3D modelling using Shapr3D. Along the way, they delved into wiring, sensors, mechanics, and physics, gaining first-hand experience in transforming an idea on paper into something that could work in the real world.
Following their victory in YEEPE Innovators 2026, the team was invited to send a representative to ISES 2026. Umar took on the opportunity to represent MCKK as a youth speaker, with Zahirulhaq accompanying him, sharing their experience and perspectives on how innovation can inspire young minds to explore their potential and pursue their ambitions.
For Umar, however, the experience became much more than a competition.
“Innovation brings joy. It’s the will to drive and find satisfaction in your success, and crave for more.”
That sense of fulfilment came not only from winning, but from the journey itself. He described the experience of learning, struggling, experimenting, and laughing alongside his teammates as one of the most meaningful parts of the process.
For him, innovation is not simply about creating something impressive. It is about creating something that can help someone, while discovering what is possible along the way.
The experience also opened his eyes to the wider challenges surrounding energy consumption and sustainable energy in Malaysia. From exploring digital design platforms to handling hardware tools and constructing a working prototype, Umar found himself learning skills far beyond the classroom.
“I felt like an engineer, if I’m being honest.”
Perhaps one of the most important lessons he took away from the experience was the value of teamwork. Umar reflected on the importance of understanding his teammates, adapting to their strengths and weaknesses, and working together through the inevitable ups and downs of a project.
Even after their victory, the team is not stopping there. Umar and his teammates plan to continue developing MRGT into a more refined prototype that could potentially be used at school. For these young innovators, winning is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of another.
His advice to other students is simple but powerful:
“Innovation is fun, but together.”
He encourages students to explore innovation even when an idea may initially seem uninteresting, because the experience itself can offer valuable lessons. Whether designing, building, presenting, experimenting, or simply creating something alongside friends, Umar believes that innovation begins with the willingness to explore.
His journey reached another remarkable moment at ISES 2026, where he stood on the KLCC stage to open an international summit.
There, Umar and Zahirulhaq also had the opportunity to meet the Minister of Economy, a MCKK alumnus. It was a memorable encounter between young Koleq students at the beginning of his journey and an Old Boy who had gone on to serve the nation.
From a rain gutter to a working turbine, from late-night experimentation to the international stage, Umar’s story is a powerful reminder that innovation does not wait for age. It begins with curiosity, courage, and the willingness to turn an idea into action.
MCKK proudly celebrates Umar Yusuf, Zahirulhaq, Iqbal, and Hareez for their remarkable achievement and, more importantly, for demonstrating the spirit of young innovators who are willing to think boldly, build collaboratively, and create for a better future.
From an idea to a working prototype, from the school laboratory to the international stage, the journey of these young Koleq innovators has only just begun.
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