loader image

From Malaysia to Europe: When Passions Align and Malaysians Unite towards Sports Innovation

Despite having lived in the UK for 16 years, Dr. Ahmad Syahid A. Fawzal heart remains faithful to his one and only home, Malaysia. This computational fluid dynamics (CFD) engineer, whose expertise and talent have garnered him multiple sponsorships up to the completion of his industrial automotive PhD at Coventry University, expresses this deep-rooted love through working towards the betterment of Malaysia’s industries; such as the automotive industry and in this case, the cycling industry! However, how was he to do this 10,500 km away from home?

It began with reaching out to the community that mattered to him the most. Through social media, Dr. Aid built himself a reputation within the Malaysian engineering community, where he was able to share his knowledge from abroad into the domestic realm, as well as network with the most prominent leaders in the field. He had also made use of MyHeart, granting him the opportunity to connect with diverse Malaysian talents around the world. Through one new connection to the next, Dr. Aid was more than delighted to contribute his knowledge back to his home country, albeit of a smaller impact than expected.

Tenaciously, he did not stop searching for more opportunities to give back to his nation; an effort soon to bear fruit in the near future. Soon enough in 2022, destiny knocked on Dr. Aid’s door when he returned to Malaysia for vacation. Bostami Ahmad, CIDe , a young man whose childhood passion in design and cycling had now extended to coincide with Dr. Aid’s passion in propelling Malaysia forward, had invited Dr. Aid out for durians.  As they sat together in the sweltering heat, their conversation unfolded to be just as sweet as the saccharine fruits in hand: Bostami had presented him with an initial design collaboration involving the Institut Sukan Negara Malaysia (ISN).

“Let’s create the world’s very first Malaysian bicycle brand!”

The Bozetta FZ8: Born in Malaysia

Now, the year is 2024. Bozetta Bikes has been established as a Malaysian brand on par with international standards and its very first creation, the Bozetta FZ8 bicycle, has finally come to be. It feels just like a dream, one that both Dr. Aid and Bostami have been very fortunate to turn into reality!

As the Centre of Excellence in Sports Technology R&D, the ISN provided Dr. Aid and Bostami with the resources to focus their efforts on enhancing the bike’s aerodynamics. By making use of their connections abroad, they allowed for the experts to test their bike’s wind resistance at the Silverstone Engineering Hub in the UK. As for the way Dr. Aid and Bostami worked collaboratively, their individual expertise truly complemented one another. Where Bostami specialised in the bike’s design – having had previous experience in Lamborghini, a supercar company in Italy, Dr. Aid specialised in regulating the practicality of such design by facilitating aerodynamic tests.

This marked the beginning of the Bozetta FZ8’s journey in finding its rightful place in the global sports world!

What’s Next for Malaysia?

Currently, the Bozetta FZ8 is being used by Malaysia’s athletes during their warm up sessions, having garnered positive responses from our athletes in terms of its comfort and flexibility. Although it has yet to compete in the Olympics itself, Dr. Aid , Bostami and the ISN look forward to its involvement in Los Angeles 2028. Furthermore, we are sure that the entire nation similarly hopes for glorious victories by our athletes in the upcoming Paris Olympic bicycle race after these training enhancements.

On a wider scale, as Dr. Aid and Bostami explain that their vision for the Bozetta had always been one of accessibility and for the general public, they anticipate Malaysia’s revolutionary bike cycling their way into neighbourhoods, city streets and various places around the world! The ISN is similarly hopeful, having initially supported Dr. Aid and Bostami’s passions in hopes of Malaysia’s industries growing further through more extensive R&D and its potential to enter the commercial field; to which the Bozetta FZ8 has successfully fulfilled!

The CEO of ISN, Ahmad Faedzal Md Ramli, adds to this as well, explaining that he hopes the Bozetta FZ8’s success story inspires Malaysians to be more involved in the betterment of the nation either through R&D, technology advancement initiatives or leveraging one’s expertise. He additionally expresses his gratitude towards Dr. Aid, stating that having a local expert on the team is a legacy; one that uplifts the story of Malaysian diaspora contributing back to the nation.

This cross-border collaboration returns to the very core of MyHeart, aligning with the aim to bridge incredible Malaysian talents abroad with organisations and individuals back home for the continued growth of our nation.

Truly, their success story is reflective of how successful Malaysians are when talents convene and put their expertise together when working towards one, united goal. From Dr. Aid’s sincere love and dedication for Malaysia, Bostami’s passion in pushing Malaysia forward into the global sports (cycling) industry, to the ISN’s commitment in the development of Malaysian sports industries, they’ve come together to take one revolutionary step forward for the whole nation.

Looking back on what Bostami has created with Dr. Aid ’s aerodynamic analysis support, it is undeniable that when Malaysian talents work with one another, their efforts can truly lead to big opportunities. This is especially so when it comes to those living abroad and equipped with experience from working in world-class companies. It is instances such as this one that fuel Dr. Aid’s and Bostami’s encouragement of Malaysians worldwide using MyHeart to accomplish milestones never before imagined. With a platform that facilitates connections between Malaysians regardless of where they are in the world, it allows for discovering new and unexpected collaborative opportunities that can help one realise their aspirations and chase their dreams for a better future!

Inspired by this collaboration across borders story? You could do the same as a MyHeart member. Register on the MyHeart portal and explore the opportunities available!

Enjoyed this story? Share it with your friends!

Incentives Templer Park International School

40% scholarship of tuition fees + Zero application fee (worth RM 1000) + Zero registration fee (worth RM 4000)

Incentives Oasis International School

100% Waiver of Registration Fee (RM10,000 value)

Incentives Sri KDU

50% rebate off the Application Fee

Incentives Straits International School

100% OFF Application & Registration fees + 10% OFF Annual School Fees

Savings of over RM10,000 plus additional benefits

NOTES

For new students at any ISP (International School Partnership) School in Malaysia

Incentives Tenby Schools

100% OFF Application & Registration fees + 10% OFF Annual School Fees

Savings of over RM10,000 plus additional benefits

NOTES

For new students at any ISP (International School Partnership) School in Malaysia

Incentives Asia Pacific Schools

100% OFF Application & Registration fees + 10% OFF Annual School Fees

Savings of over RM10,000 plus additional benefits

NOTES

For new students at any ISP (International School Partnership) School in Malaysia

Incentives Taylor’s International School

100% waiver of Registration Fees

Savings up to RM20,000

NOTES

Only for new enrollments into any of Taylor’s International School (Branch Kuala Lumpur / Puchong) from now until 31 December 2023

Incentives Nexus International School

100% waiver of Registration Fees

Savings up to RM20,000

NOTES

Only for new enrollments into any of Nexus International School from now until 31 December 2023

Incentives Gardens International School

100% waiver of Registration Fees

Savings up to RM20,000

NOTES

Only for new enrollments into any of Gardens International School from now until 31 December 2023

Dr Catheryn Lim

Who is Dr Catheryn Lim?

Currently a Senior Research Fellow at Matthew Wood group and Chair, Early-Mid Career Researchers Committee at Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford. Received her Ph.D., Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry from UNSW Dr. Lim is now working on understanding disease mechanisms and developing genetic treatments for neuromuscular diseases. Two of these strategies are now at later stages of development where she is collaborating with industrial partners to optimise the strategies in preparation for first-in-human clinical trials.

Format of the sharing session

The participants for the session consisted of students and academicians coming from various biological and related sciences background.

During the session, Dr. Lim shared about her experience and journey in the research world and delved into the new developments being made in genetic treatments (specifically in neuromuscular diseases). She also shared some tips and advice on how to be active in the biotechnology research industry.

Outcome

The session has exposed 183 participants to new development in genetic treatments (specifically in neuromuscular diseases).

Dr Aid Fawzal

Who is Dr Aid Fawzal?

Experienced CFD Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the automotive, energy and oil & gas industries. Strong professional background with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Mechanical, Automotive and Manufacturing Engineering from Coventry University. Invented a constant number which is called the Fawzal Number (Fa) which is used to optimize supercar’s cooling system.

Format of the sharing session

Our participants consist of students from various engineering field and various level of studies, from bachelor’s degree to PhD.

During the session, Dr Aid shared with us the step-by-step process involved in designing a car using a simulation software where he explained why certain components are designed in such ways and the importance of each component. He also shared some tips to students who are planning to go into the automotive field.

Outcome

The session has benefited 284 participants with new knowledge and exposure to the automotive world and inspire our future engineers to pursue and improve our automotive industry.

Samantha Chong

In 2022, we collaborated with KL City Opera and organised a masterclass with Samantha Chong, a Malaysian mezzo-soprano based in Hong Kong

Objective

To develop the performing arts scene in Malaysia via a collaboration with a leading name in classical Italian opera.

Format of the masterclass

The masterclass was held over 2 days, where 4 participants were selected to perform an aria or duet. Samantha then provided verbal and demonstrative feedback to each participant for 7-9 minutes each, which included song and scene interpretation, and stage presence.

Outcome

Samantha made a conscious effort to focus her sharing NOT on singing, but on the various aspects of performance, something that Malaysian performers lacked. So, MyCollabs acted as a medium for her to guide the students in navigating the world of classical opera, including dealing with different stakeholders like conductors, music directors and repetiteurs.

The students, on the other hand, received a rare opportunity to undergo a masterclass conducted by a seasoned performer for free. They could then use the knowledge they gained to enhance their opera skills and hopefully, pursue a career as full-time professional opera singers, something which is a rarity in Asia.