Terengganu: Flying a drone may be out of reach for many children, but at the MADANI Rakyat programme (PMR) 2025 in Terengganu, they were given a chance to take the controls for the first time in the Drone JuniorSkills competition.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, despite having no prior experience in flying drones, Ammar Rayyan Nur Fahrurozi, 12, from SK Sultan Sulaiman 1, Kuala Terengganu, was thrilled to participate in the competition as he dreams of becoming a professional drone pilot one day. Ammar Rayyan said usually, he only participated in drone-related quizzes at school, but this was his first time handling the real equipment.

Another participant, Wan Azza Nathifa Wan Nor Azam, 11, from SK Padang Hiliran, Kuala Terengganu, said the competition was a golden opportunity, even though she felt nervous when first given the task. She mentioned that the organiser set a challenge to complete several obstacles in under two minutes, which initially seemed daunting but turned out to be enjoyable.

Meanwhile, the Head of Automotive and Drone Technology Unit at the Centre for Instructor and Advanced Skill Training (CIAST), Zuraidy Shamsudin, stated that the competition aimed to provide early exposure to students on drone technology. This initiative helps them understand the basics before exploring more advanced applications. He emphasized that drone technology in Malaysia will be widely used across various sectors, making it a value-added skill in many careers.

Organised in collaboration with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Council (TVET) and the Department of Skills Development (JPK), the competition offers cash prizes ranging from RM100 to RM300 for winners in the primary school, secondary school, and public categories.