Written By Dr Mohd Haziq Dzulkifli
Edited by Nuratiqah Imani binti Noordin
The sole representative from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FKM) made history by winning the Gold Medal and the Best Booth Award at the Engineering Research Symposium (EuRES) & International Fusion Invention Research Exhibition Competition (i-FIRE), held at the University of Wollongong Malaysia (UOW), Shah Alam.
Azam Fahmi Ahmad Fazli, Muhammad Faris Muhammad Anas, Muhammad Hafizuddin Mustapa, and Muhd Isyraff Ihsan Azahari—all Year 2 students of Mechanical Engineering with Honours—presented their research project titled “BaraX: Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Fire-Retardant Paint” in the competition, which featured nearly 50 entries from more than 10 primary and secondary schools, as well as local and international higher-learning institutions. The four FKM students were guided and accompanied by their group advisor, Dr Mohd Haziq Dzulkifli, Senior Lecturer at FKM, UTM.
Previously, Azam Fahmi, Muhammad Faris, and Muhammad Hafizuddin had already made a name for themselves as FKM and UTM’s sole representatives at another international innovation competition, the International Undergraduate Innovation Competition 2025 (IUIC’25), held on 28–30 October at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Batu Pahat, where they secured a silver medal. Their success in that competition motivated them to improve their project further and aim for a gold medal in their next research competition.
We improved our research outcomes in several aspects based on suggestions and comments received from the previous competition,” said Muhammad Hafiz when asked about the differences this time around. “According to Azam Fahmi, they were better prepared for the presentation phase this time after receiving guidance from their advisor, Dr. Mohd Haziq Dzulkifli. “Even though the judges’ questions were more challenging this round, we felt calm and confident thanks to the experience we gained from IUIC’25,” he added.
EuFIRE’25 is an annual global event organized by the Faculty of Civil Engineering (FKA), UTM, serving as a platform for researchers, industry professionals, academics, and inventors to showcase their latest work—aligned with this year’s theme, “Connecting Minds for a Sustainable Future.”
For 2025, EuFIRE was held on 27 November, with EuRES and i-FIRE being the 7th and 3rd editions, respectively. The opening ceremony was officiated by Prof. Dr. Hew Pang Leang, Vice Chancellor of the University of Wollongong Malaysia.
