THE nation’s push to address intensifying flood risks has taken a youth-driven turn with the launch of a nationwide challenge aimed at harnessing student innovation to strengthen river resilience and sustainability.
The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has introduced the River Flooding Adaptation & Resilience Challenge, positioning it as a platform for university students to contribute practical and scalable solutions to the country’s growing climate and water management challenges.
Framed within the commission’s Transition, Resilience and Adaptation in Capital Markets agenda, the initiative aligns with the Capital Market Masterplan 2026–2030, which emphasises the role of financial systems in supporting climate adaptation and long-term sustainability.
Developed in collaboration with key institutional and industry partners including ICAEW Malaysia, Lembaga Urus Air Selangor, Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd and the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, the challenge brings together expertise spanning academia, engineering, finance and environmental governance.
Participants will compete across two distinct tracks designed to merge awareness with applied innovation.
One stream centres on public engagement, encouraging creative campaigns to raise awareness of river health and inspire community action.
The second calls for interdisciplinary teams to design flood mitigation solutions for Taman Sri Muda, combining engineering concepts with financing strategies and measurable climate co-benefits such as renewable energy integration.
Speaking at the launch, Securities Commission chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Faiz Azmi underscored the strategic importance of rivers to the nation’s resilience and economic stability.
“Rivers are the circulatory system of this nation, supplying 80% of the country’s raw water supply and run through our most economically vital corridors.”
“The capital market values ideas that are both technically sound and financially viable. Following the success of COFAR, we are confident that Malaysia's university students can contribute to the integrated solutions needed for our river basins,” he said.
The competition offers cash prizes totalling RM57,000, with RM50,000 allocated to the innovation-focused track and RM7,000 for the awareness category. It is open to students from public and private universities across Malaysia, as well as Malaysians studying overseas.
The programme builds on the momentum of the 2025 Coastal Flooding Adaptation & Resilience Challenge, which drew participation from more than 220 students across 29 universities to develop solutions for Carey Island in Selangor.
Registration remains open until 12 May 2026, as organisers look to channel fresh ideas into actionable strategies for safeguarding Malaysia’s river systems against the mounting pressures of climate change. - April 28, 2026
