MAN 1 Pidie Robotics Team Wins Third Place in Southeast Asian Competition in Malaysia
The Mulieng Robotics Team from State Islamic Senior High School (MAN) 1 Pidie, Aceh, won third place at the World Robotic Center Competition (WRCC) 2026 held at University Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Selangor, Malaysia, on 11–12 August 2026.
The achievement was secured in the Robot Sumo category after the MAN 1 Pidie Robotics Team competed against participants from several Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam.
The MAN 1 Pidie team fielded two competitors, Habibi Azzarral and Askia Humaira, in the competition. The Robot Sumo category features wheeled robots designed to push opposing robots out of the arena boundary line.
Expert Staff to the Minister of Religious Affairs for Legal and Human Rights Affairs, Faisal Ali Hasyim, expressed appreciation for the achievement by the Aceh-based team. According to him, the success not only brought honour to Aceh but also to Indonesia at the international level.
“I extend my highest appreciation and congratulations to the MAN 1 Pidie Robotics Team for achieving the best result at the World Robotic Center Competition 2026 at University Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Selangor, Malaysia. This is not only a source of pride for the people of Aceh, but also for all Indonesians,” said Faisal on Friday (14/8).
Faisal assessed that the achievement demonstrates an improvement in the quality of education at madrasahs. He expressed hope that MAN 1 Pidie’s success would increase public confidence in madrasah education, particularly at the senior secondary level.
“This shows that the quality of our education is improving. It is proof that education at madrasahs continues to advance,” he said.
According to Faisal, achievements in robotics are also expected to encourage madrasah students to excel and innovate in various other fields, including madrasah science competitions.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs, he said, hopes that MAN 1 Pidie can develop into a model and reference madrasah for upper secondary education in Aceh. The success is considered an example for other madrasahs to develop students’ potential in technology and innovation.
“Once again, congratulations to the Robotics Team. God willing, I will visit MAN 1 Pidie again to see the achievements of the local students,” said Faisal.
The WRCC 2026 competition was held using a knockout system and brought together robotics teams from several Southeast Asian countries. Competition in the Robot Sumo category required participants to design robots with the ability to move, defend and push opposing robots out of the arena.
The achievement marks an international milestone for MAN 1 Pidie while demonstrating the potential of madrasah students in mastering technology and robotics.