Kuala lumpur: The importance of energy-saving practices and innovation continues to receive widespread exposure up to the school level through the 2026 Energy Smart Hero Search, which was organized in conjunction with the 2026 Energy Smart Carnival held here today. In this competition, two students were crowned champions in the Young Energy Hero and Energy Innovation Hero categories.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Young Energy Hero champion Muhammad Faris Naufal Ab. Naufal, 11, expressed his surprise at winning the competition with his three-minute creative video titled 'Save the Earth and Our Pockets,' which surpassed five other contenders. He credited his success to the help and support of his mother, Sarina Ayu Mohd Radzi, and expressed his intention to save his rewards in his National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN) Prime account for future use.

Meanwhile, Cheah Rui Nee, 15, the champion of Wira Inovasi Tenaga (Secondary School) from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Convent Taiping, shared that her journey to success began unexpectedly when she accompanied her younger brother to participate in a quiz during the early screening stage in June. Cheah, who was selected among the top 30 to advance to the semi-finals and eventually made it to the final stage, attributed her success to her father's support in producing a video titled 'Energy Innovation Heroes.'

As first-place winners in their respective categories, Muhammad Faris Naufal and Cheah Rui Nee each received a cash prize of RM3,000 in the form of SSPN Prime savings, a victory trophy, and an energy experiment kit.

The representative of the Wira Bijak Tenaga 2026 Secretariat, Muhammad Faisal Yusoff, highlighted the extensive participation in the competition, with 66,880 students from 7,563 schools nationwide. He noted that the syllabus for the Energy Smart Hero Search 2026 has expanded to include broader topics such as energy transition, energy value chain, new tariff structures, and electricity and gas safety.

The Energy Smart Hero Search is a continuation of the Energy Efficiency Challenge implemented by the Energy Commission since 2014, now with an expanded focus on energy literacy. The competition aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of energy, including aspects of energy networks, safety, tariffs, and energy transition.