MALAYSIAN teams did the country proud by bringing back a gold, two silver and two bronze medals from the World Robot Olympiad 2008 held in Yokohama, Japan recently.

The team from SMK Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom in Kuantan won the gold medal in the upper secondary section for their invention - a multi-purpose robot that looked like a boat, said an Education Ministry official.

The teams from SMK Methodist in Tanjung Malim and SJK(C) Sebiew in Bintulu, Sarawak, won the silver medals in the lower secondary and primary school categories respectively.

The bronze medals went to the teams from SJK(C) Seng Keow from Seberang Prai and SMK Bintulu. They had each won a medal in the primary and upper secondary school categories respectively.

The Seng Keow team was also a crowd favourite and won the most popular team award.

A total of 3,100 teams from both primary and secondary schools nationwide had participated in the National Robotics Competition (NRC) 2008.

The champions of each category then competed in the NRC finals held in Johor in September. The NRC final winners represented Malaysia at the world Olympiad.

Deputy Director-General (General Policy and Educational Development) Dr Haili Dolhan and Pahang education department co-curriculum officer for science and technology, Hassan Mohamd led the teams.

Organised by the Education Ministry, the National Science Centre and Sasbadi Sdn Bhd, the objectives of the NRC are to help students build a solid foundation in Mathematics, Science, Technology, Design and ICT, work together as a team, enhance creativity and promote robotics among students.

The Malaysians competed against teams from China, Denmark, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Norway, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea Sweden, Taiwan and Thailand.