Web developer walks away with RM20,000 for creating fun edutainment application

• Alcatel-Lucent announces Grand Prize winner of ‘Geek-the-Genius’ Contest who walks away with cash prize of RM20,000.
• The application development contest aimed to encourage the creation of more local content on the Internet.

March 6, 2013 – Kuala Lumpur. Alcatel-Lucent Malaysia recently announced the winners of the Geek-the-Genius application development contest.

The Grand Prize of RM20,000 in cash was awarded to 28-year-old Saifol Anwar Abd Rahman, a web developer, who created a game application which helps to teach common Malay expressions to children in a fun and interactive way. The app, named “Hang Tuah Selamatkan Bahasa Melayu” (Hang Tuah Saves the Malay Language), impressed the panel of judges with its localized and educational content.

L-R: Saifol Anwar Abd Rahman, Grand Prize Winner; and Mohd Fazlin Shah Mohd Salleh, President and Managing Director for Alcatel-Lucent Malaysia.

Mohd Fazlin Shah Mohd Salleh, President and Managing Director for Alcatel-Lucent Malaysia, in his address to the winners, acknowledged the effort and creativity of the winners and urged them to continue creating more localized content for the next generation of internet-savvy Malaysians.

Opened to all eligible Malaysians, the contest was held in an effort to encourage the creation of local edutainment content on the Internet. Over 100 registrations were received over the contest period of 12 weeks.

Winners of the GTG Contest and Mohd Fazlin Shah Mohd Salleh, President and Managing Director for Alcatel-Lucent Malaysia in the center.

The applications submitted by participants were shortlisted and judged based on several criteria. These include creativity level, idea originality, level of educational content, user experience, and suitability and relevance to the target audience.

A total of 13 cash prizes were awarded -- the Grand Prize at RM20,000; First Runner up Prize at RM12,000; Second Runner up Prize at RM5,000; and ten Consolation Prizes worth RM700 each.