On this International Youth Day, software engineering student Aina Mardia is proving that the next wave of innovation in Sarawak could be homegrown. From tackling driving anxiety with an AI-powered road safety system to challenging stereotypes in tech, she’s coding a future where Kuching’s streets — and its youth — are smarter, safer, and ready to lead.
Coding a smarter Sarawak
Every year, International Youth Day is a reminder that young people aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow — they’re already shaping the world today.
From climate action to creative innovation, their ideas are transforming communities in ways once thought impossible.
In Sarawak, one of those ideas belongs to 25-year-old software engineering student Aina Mardia Mohamad Kerta.
She’s not looking to build the next viral app or social media platform. Instead, she wants to make the roads safer — starting with her own city.
Her solution? An AI-powered navigation system designed to make driving safer and less stressful. Combining augmented reality, the Internet of Things (IoT), and real-time road monitoring, it could highlight lanes in neon colours, suggest optimal speeds, track nearby vehicles, and calculate safe distances based on weather and road conditions.
The idea grew out of her own driving anxiety — and a cityscape she knows all too well.
“Road safety isn’t just a personal concern — it’s a community one. Technology should help us feel safer, not more distracted,” she told Sarawak Tribune.
This International Youth Day, her vision captures the spirit of her generation — using innovation not for novelty’s sake, but to make everyday life safer, smarter, and more connected.
Safer, smarter cities
She represents a generation of Sarawakians who aren’t just learning about technology — they are asking how it can be used to solve real, local problems.
Studying for her Bachelor of Software Engineering at i-CATS University College, Aina is surrounded by rapid advances in AI, cloud computing, and mobile technology. But her view of innovation is grounded in everyday life.
“From self-driving cars to life-saving medical software, every innovation runs on code written by engineers.
“Technology doesn’t eliminate opportunities; it creates them. The real future isn’t humans versus AI; it’s how we collaborate to build a smarter world,” she explained.
For her, the question is not whether youth should be involved in tech — it’s whether they can afford not to be.
Finding path into software engineering
Aina didn’t always see herself as a software engineer. Like many, she associated coding with computers, not people. That changed as she saw technology’s role in everything from communication to healthcare.
“With the rise of smartphones, cloud computing, and AI-driven technology, I realised software is becoming the backbone of modern life.
“It’s more than just a career — it’s the future — and I wanted to be part of it, creating solutions that make life easier, smarter, and more connected,” she said.
Her studies have reinforced that vision. Beyond learning to write efficient code, she has discovered the importance of collaboration, problem-solving, and ethical decision-making in tech.
“People think we just sit alone and code, but software engineering is about working together to solve problems and designing systems that are safe, secure, and beneficial for society,” added the 25-year-old.
That teamwork mindset is tested daily. In her class of 12, only two students are women — a ratio that mirrors the broader reality of women’s under-representation in Malaysia’s tech workforce, especially in specialised fields like AI and software engineering.
Instead of being discouraged, Aina uses it as fuel.
“Women bring invaluable diversity, creativity, and resilience to the field.
“Instead of feeling discouraged, I take pride in challenging stereotypes and demonstrating that technology is not just for men but for anyone with the passion to innovate,” she said.
Her confidence is bolstered by strong female role models. She credits her mentor, Ts Nurlaila Rosli — director of the Centre for Information Technology Management at i-CATS — with showing her that women can lead in tech while still nurturing the next generation.
“She takes the time to guide and support us, encouraging us to join competitions and showing by example that women can thrive in leadership roles.
“She showed me that we don’t just belong in tech — we can excel in it,” Aina said.
Kuching’s call for innovation
When she looks ahead to 2030, Aina doesn’t see herself leaving Kuching for bigger tech hubs — she sees herself building one here.
“While Kuching is developing, it still lags in adopting cutting-edge technology, and I want to be part of the movement that changes that.
“There’s so much untapped potential here. If we can harness the creativity of our youth and give them the skills and resources they need, we can be at the forefront of digital innovation in Malaysia,” she emphasised.
Aina believes Sarawak’s future growth depends on empowering young people to think like problem-solvers, not just jobseekers.
Whether in AI, app development, or cybersecurity, local youth can create solutions that reflect Sarawak’s unique needs and values.
Her advice to other young Sarawakians is direct: “If you can dream it, you can build it. Don’t let the idea that tech is ‘for someone else’ stop you. The world needs more youth in tech — because without us, we’d all be missing out on something incredible.”
She smiles before adding, “You don’t have to start with a big, world-changing idea. Just start. Learn, explore, and see where your curiosity takes you. Every innovation begins with a question.”
For her, that question began with: How can we make roads safer? By 2030, she hopes the answer will be embedded in windscreens across Sarawak.
This International Youth Day, Aina’s story is a reminder that the future isn’t waiting for someone else to build it. It’s already being coded — one idea, one project, and one determined young mind at a time.
