Engineering a Medical Solution: TAR UMT Student Clinches National Prize for 3D-Printed Wrist Splint

When engineering meets medical empathy, the results can change lives—and win national accolades.

Lee Hao Yuen, a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Honours student at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), recently proved the high caliber of technical expertise coming out of local campuses by clinching Second Prize at the prestigious 9th Tan Sri Ir. Hj Yusoff Ibrahim FYP Competition 2025.

Organized by the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), this annual national showdown isn't your average university science fair. It is designed to act as a rigorous, high-stakes platform that pushes undergraduate students across the country to showcase engineering excellence and sustainability.

The Ultimate Interdisciplinary Showdown

To say the competition is highly selective is an understatement. Each participating institution in Malaysia is permitted to nominate only one star student per engineering discipline.

Hao Yuen represented TAR UMT against a brutal field of 33 top-tier participants from various public and private universities across the nation. Making the feat even more impressive, the competition featured zero categories. This meant that civil, electrical, chemical, and mechanical engineering disciplines all competed directly against one another.

To win over a tough board of judges comprising university lecturers and veteran industry engineers, Hao Yuen had to clearly demonstrate the universal value, practical sustainability, and technical robustness of his specific work.

3D Printing a Better Recovery

His winning project, titled ‘Design and fabrication of 3D-printed wrist splint for wrist fracture,’ sits at a fascinating intersection of mechanical engineering and healthcare.

Hao Yuen conducted an in-depth study of the mechanical characteristics of 3D-printed splints, meticulously evaluating how different materials, loading conditions, loading angles, and splint lengths affected the device. The true highlight of his research was the optimization process: figuring out how to drastically cut down on material usage to keep the medical supply sustainable and lightweight, without compromising a single ounce of its mechanical strength.

The brilliant concept was sparked by his lecturer, Dr Sara Lee Kit Yee, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering. It aligned perfectly with Hao Yuen’s passion for medical supplies that require heavy engineering involvement. But the drive was also deeply personal—having previously volunteered as a real-life medic, Hao Yuen had seen firsthand how vital practical, reliable wrist splints are during emergency crises.

Learning Beyond the Textbooks

Reflecting on his national win, the former student of Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Chong Hwa, Jalan Gombak, expressed immense pride in his alma mater.

He credited TAR UMT’s exceptional faculty for providing the kind of hands-on, rigorous guidance that allowed him to absorb knowledge stretching far beyond standard classroom textbooks. He specifically highlighted the mentorship of Dr Sara, who stood by him throughout the project's grueling development cycle and helped shape his growth as a professional engineer.

For future engineers looking on, Hao Yuen’s milestone is a masterclass in career strategy: the best engineering solutions aren't just built on complex formulas, but on how those formulas can be used to solve real-world human problems.