Malaysia is often known for being a multicultural nation. From its colourful heritage to soaring skyscrapers, Malaysia has built a name for itself in the tourism industry.
But wait, that’s not all! Did you know our country has also produced useful inventions beneficial to people around the globe?
Here are five inventions which you may be surprised to know were made by our very own Malaysian geniuses!
1. Pen Drive
Source: Star Online
This device has probably become part and parcel of our daily lives in today’s technology-driven world!
At the age of 19, Mr. Pua Khein Seng from Sekinchan, Selangor was pursuing his degree in electrical and control engineering at the University of Chiao Tung, Taiwan. During his third year of studies, he became invested in learning about flash memory technology. This eventually led him to produce the first-ever pen drive with his partners in 2001!
Widely known as the USB Flash drive, this device has the capacity to store large volumes of data. Be it work documents, movies, or music, this is your go-to item if you intend to safeguard any type of data.
2. Automatic Egg Boiler
Datuk Hew posing with his proud invention.
Source: Star Online
Who needs a pan when you have the automatic egg boiler!
Back in 1973, Datuk Hew Ah Kow from Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan was inspired to find a solution for overcooked eggs. His work as a bulldozer operator often resulted in him spending time in the jungle resorting to (sadly, overcooked) eggs for breakfast!. It took him a year to finally find a solution to the problem and the rest is history!
The automatic egg boiler is a detachable four-piece plastic ware which turns raw eggs into soft-boiled eggs! This gadget is an essential item in home kitchens and eateries such as local kopitiams and mamak stalls across Malaysia.
Catch a demo of how to use this gadget to make perfect half-boiled eggs.
3. Water dispensers
Source: Youtube/Ooi Seng Chye
Penangite, Mr Ooi Seng Chye decided to create a water dispenser after working as a Purchasing Manager at Wong Engineering Bhd. After leaving the company, he was keen on trying something new. He moved to Kuala Lumpur to embark on a new journey. This led him to obtain a CIP Catalyst grant worth RM 150,000. With this grant, he invented the water dispenser unit. To date, he is the proud owner of 500 RO water dispensing units across the city.
One of Mr. Ooi’s prototypes.
Source: The Marketing Scribe
The water dispenser kiosk uses the reverse osmosis method. It filters harmful particles and waste from raw sewage water to produce clean water fit for human consumption.
4. Lytro Camera
Ren Ng showing off some of his prototypes.
Source: News.com.au
Having migrated to Australia at the age of 9, Malaysian-born Ren Ng pursued his interest in researching light fields during his student days at Stanford University, in particular, how it applied to cameras in compact-size packages. This eventually led him to create light-field cameras which are user-friendly. The technology behind the light-field camera soon formed the basis of other inventions such as digital cameras as we know it today.
To those of us who are still clueless, the Lytro Light-Field Camera, captures both the intensity of light in a scene and the direction the light was coming from.
5. Flipper Toothbrush Holder
One of the many Flipper Toothbrush Holder designs by Mr. Goo.
Source: Walmart
Mr. Goo Yock Tee had noticed how toothbrushes were not kept hygienically and decided to work on a solution. Together with his team, he spent months conducting research and finally succeeded in coming up with a holder popularly known as the Flipper, which is basically a toothbrush holder which prevents any type of toothbrush from falling.
*Featured image sourced from Star Online
