Poor. In 2019, State University of Malang (UM) is trusted to host the 2019 Energy Saving Car Contest (KMHE). This national level competition has been an annual agenda since 2012 organized by the Directorate General of Higher Education. The opening of the 2019 KMHE was held on Tuesday (24/9) in the courtyard of the UM Rectorate Graha which was also attended by the Director of Student Affairs at the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Kemenristekdikti).

This energy-efficient car contest will be held until Saturday (28/9). A number of invited guests also packed a series of opening events for this prestigious competition. The event was officially opened by Dr. Didin Wahidin as Director of Student Affairs at Kemenristekdikti and Prof. Dr. AH. Rofi'uddin, M.Pd as UM Chancellor. In 2019, there were 80 teams from 45 universities in Indonesia ready to take part in a series of KMHE 2019 activities with their best performance.

The purpose of holding this competition is none other than to accommodate the creativity of Indonesian students to play an active role in maintaining energy sustainability through the concept of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles. This was stated in the theme raised at the 2019 KMHE.

"This year's KMHE has the theme One Soul for Nature or in Arema (re: Arek Malang) Utas Awij for Nature. The 2019 KMHE currently takes the route on Jalan Jakarta and Jalan Simpang Ijen, "explained Dr. Yoto, ST, M.Pd as the Chief Executive of the 2019 KMHE.

The short-term target of this competition is to become a reference for Indonesian students to continue to similar competitions at the international level and in the long term it is expected to be able to encourage creative and innovative Indonesian students to create energy-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles.

"Through KMHE 2019, it is hoped that it will become one of the educational media for all elements of society that higher education in Indonesia is able to be a driving force for innovation to build national sovereignty through original and highly efficient products for the nation's children," explained Prof. Dr. AH. Rofi'uddin, M.Pd in his speech.

The same thing was also expressed by Dr. Didin Wahidin in his speech said that by holding this KMHE it is hoped that it will not only be a competition for car racing in the circuit arena, but also as a medium for sharing knowledge and technology. "Today is one of our efforts as the Indonesian nation to keep abreast of technological developments in the world. So that through this competition, it is hoped that Indonesian students who are the nation's leaders will be qualified and advanced in science and technology, and will continue to love their homeland so that they can compete in the international arena, "said Dr. Didin Wahidin.

The event was then continued with an energy-efficient car defile from all participants. In this KMHE competition, there are 2 categories of vehicles that are contested, namely urban and prototype with four types of fuel, namely diesel, electricity, gasoline, and ethanol. Each team showcases their energy-efficient car innovations in front of invited guests and spectators. The lively opening activities will certainly continue with a series of activities until the end of the 2019 KMHE event.

Reporter: Andita Eka Wahyuni - UM Public Relations Internship

Photo reporter: Firda Farhani & Derin Aypa - UM Public Relations Internship