KUALA LUMPUR: SMK Tamparuli from Sabah whose innovation prevents accidents among motorists emerged champion for the final of Petronas All about Youth 2015 competition here yesterday.
The school, which located about 45 kilometres from the state capital, came up with flood alert system which had been installed at Tamparuli bridge.
Dubbed as "Awas! Bahaya Di Hadapan" (Be careful! Danger ahead) project, the tool aims to alert and prevent motorists from crossing when the bridge flooded.
When the water level rises, the sensor will activate LED warning signboards and alarm police to put barriers at both ends of the bridge.
In the beginning, Petronas had given every participating school a start-up fund of RM2,000.
SMK Tamparuli students managed to raise RM30,000 from garage sales, fund-raising concerts, selling recycled items and doing odd jobs among others to get money for the project.
The school, which competed with other five states finalists, received grand prize of RM50,000 in school refurbishment fund.
The team of 20 people will also get RM1,200 each deposited into personal bank accounts listed under the National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN).
Prior to the final competition, the school had been approached by travel agency in Kiulu, futsal manager in Membakut, leaders in Membakut, Tenom and Keningau to have the similar floor alert system at their places.
Its principal Kusdi Ribut had also said the school would patent the innovation and work with experts to improve the tool.
"We hope this flood alert system will be widely used at flood prone areas across the country,".
The Petronas All About Youth programme is a corporate social responsibility-based competition introduced in 2014 to nurture students’ talents and leadership skills through projects in education, community well-being and environment.