Penang Students Beat 21 Countries to Win Top Robotics Prize in Australia
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Nine students from Penang just made Malaysia proud by doing something remarkable on the world stage. They travelled all the way to Australia and came home as global robotics champions.
The students, aged between 15 and 16 years old, competed in the Asia Pacific Open Championship for the FIRST LEGO League Challenge 2025, held at Macquarie University in Sydney. The international event featured 59 teams from 22 countries, including heavyweights like the United States, Japan, and Germany.
But it was the Malaysian team, Nemesis X Assassins, who came out on top — earning the Overall Champion title and also taking Second Place for Best Robot Performance. This marks Malaysia’s best-ever result in the competition since 2017.
Meet the Teen Team That Took on the World
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Nemesis X Assassins is a group of nine students from five different schools across Penang. They came together through their shared passion for robotics, coding, and creative problem solving. Some of them came from Chung Ling High School, while others represented schools such as Phor Tay High School, Heng Ee Branch, Penang Chinese Girls’ High School, and Han Chiang Private High School.
Their mission? To design and program a LEGO robot that could complete underwater-themed tasks under this year’s competition theme, “Submerged”.
The journey was guided by Head Coach Ng Lee Chuang, with strong support from three dedicated assistant coaches: Eric Lo Weng Kit, Ritchie Poh, and Soon Khye Ze. Together, they formed a tight-knit team that balanced skill, discipline, and trust.
What Is the FIRST LEGO League?
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The FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is a global robotics programme that introduces science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to students aged nine to sixteen through hands-on learning. Participants build LEGO-based robots and solve real-world problems through guided research, coding, and teamwork.
In Malaysia, the FLL has grown steadily in popularity among schools and youth organisations, thanks to support from the Ministry of Education, private STEM hubs, and grassroots robotics communities like Assassins Robotics, which mentored the winning Penang team.
Programmes like these not only teach technical skills, but also prepare students for careers in future-focused fields like artificial intelligence, automation, and sustainable engineering.
A Win That Goes Beyond Medals
While many teams arrived as national champions, Nemesis X Assassins had taken third place at the Malaysian national finals earlier this year. Despite that, they were chosen to represent the country and ended up achieving something no Malaysian team has done in nearly a decade.
The victory is not just a moment of pride for Penang or Malaysia. It is a sign of what young people can achieve when given the right support, mentorship, and platform to grow.
Their win has already sparked increased interest in coding, robotics clubs, and LEGO Education tools among parents and schools across Malaysia.
How to Get Your Child Involved in Robotics
Image credit: Chumbaka Asia
For parents and educators who are inspired by this story, there are many ways to start. Several Malaysian schools now have robotics clubs, while private centres such as Chumbaka, KakiDIY, and Arus Academy offer weekend classes and coding bootcamps.
Younger children can also get involved with beginner-friendly tools such as LEGO Education SPIKE Prime, Makeblock, or Micro:bit starter kits — all of which are available online and through educational retailers.
These programmes are not just about technology. They also encourage creativity, communication, and confidence — qualities that helped the Nemesis X Assassins go from local hopefuls to international champions.
What Is Next for These Young Champions?
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Although their next steps have not been officially announced, the team’s story is already being shared across Malaysian media and STEM networks. Many hope that this achievement will bring more visibility and funding to robotics education.
For the Nemesis X Assassins, this win may just be the beginning. Their journey is a reminder that with the right mix of curiosity and guidance, Malaysian students can compete — and win — at the highest levels.
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