Universiti Brunei Darussalam’s (UBD) Shell Eco-marathon team, Belia Tabah, returned to a warm reception as they arrived home from the Shell Eco-marathon Asia-Pacific and the Middle East 2025 in Qatar.
Receiving the 3rd place winning team at the Brunei International Airport was UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr Hazri Haji Kifle, assistant vice-chancellors, senior officials, family and friends who celebrated their outstanding performance in the competition and safe return.
Belia Tabah and their Prototype Battery-Electric Vehicle, Mekar broke the national record that they themselves set last year when they placed 9th during the Shell Eco-marathon and the Middle East 2024 held in Lombok, Indonesia. Their latest achievement of an amazing 301.7km kW/h efficiency is testament to the team’s collaborative and innovative efforts in sustainability and engineering research.
On behalf of UBD, Dr Hazri personally congratulated the team at the Brunei International Airport Arrival Hall and expressed his appreciation of their unwavering determination leading up to their notable success in the competition. “UBD’s Shell Eco-marathon team has made significant improvements over the years, raising the bar for next year’s teams. To have Brunei Darussalam recognised as one of the top 3 teams this year, UBD is beyond elated to make such a contribution towards sustainability and research. I sincerely hope future team members embrace this as a challenge and set the standard even higher.”
Mekar driver Ahmad Muzakker Haji Khalid said, “Competing in the Shell Eco-Marathon Asia Pacific and Middle East 2025 has been an incredible and arduous journey. Securing 3rd place in the Battery-Electric Prototype category is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team. I am happy to say that we’re proud to represent Brunei in a competition that strives for innovation and sustainability, and we’re excited to be here back in Brunei to share this joy. We also would like to extend our utmost gratitude for the support of our families, friends, our sponsors and the university. Without their assistance, we wouldn’t have had this opportunity. Last but not least, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude and would like to congratulate my entire team for the job well done as without them, I wouldn’t be able to achieve something of this caliber. Let’s keep on pushing our limits, keep on learning and finally let’s strive to make Brunei sustainable and eco-friendly!”
“I have had the privilege of supervising the “Belia Tabah” team for some time now, and it has been a truly special experience,” said Dr Muhammad Abid, Belia Tabah supervisor and Assistant Professor at the Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Faculty of Integrated Technologies (FIT). “This innovative and energetic team has worked tirelessly over the past 6–8 months to prepare their car, Mekar, for the competition. From the very first day of the event, the team’s spirit was incredibly high, with every member fully committed to securing victory for UBD.”
“Competing against some of the best teams in the region was undoubtedly challenging, but Belia Tabah proved that with the right strategy and timing, anything is possible,” he added. “Alhamdulillah, we not only broke our national record twice but also secured 3rd place among 21 teams in our category. Our team is constantly improving, and Insya’Allah, it won’t be long before we claim the top spot.”
On Belia Tabah’s achievement, Team Manager Muhammad Hifdzur Azmi Haji Mohd Zain said, “What Belia Tabah has been doing all these years was a work of art in the context of student-led projects involving engineering fundamentals and applications integrating students from different disciplines and fields. I am very proud of my team for pushing their limit to achieve our objectives and mission to success, working collectively towards the end with a good ending on the finishing line.”
“My job here is done,” he added. “I was there to help manage the team and support UBD in its success in the face of the world, particularly in Shell Eco-marathon competitions and also bringing Brunei towards achieving one of the goals of Brunei Wawasan 2035, ‘Educated, Highly Skilled, and Accomplished People’. I hope the legacy will be maintained and sustained in the future. It’s time for future generations to rise and create their own stories. The world will keep evolving, and it’s up to them to catch up and adapt to future sustainable development. Don’t let anyone tell you that it is impossible. Be the one to stay up front for encountering challenges, and from there, you will improve despite the failures that you will get. That’s how you become successful.”
Crucial financial and technical support for Belia Tabah came from key sponsors which include Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP), Brunei Shell Marketing Company Sdn Bhd (BSM), Unified National Networks Sdn Bhd (UNN), Shell E&P Brunei (SEPB) and more. The generous contributions from the sponsors have enabled the team to enhance their vehicle, Mekar and gain valuable insights for the competition.
UBD’s Shell Eco-marathon Organisation (SEMO) and UBD Incubation students work together to compete in the Shell Eco-marathon, which is a global competition that challenges students to design and build energy-efficient cars. Participation in the competition is part of UBD’s Discovery Year, where students engage in two semesters of activities during their third year.