AdminMalaysia has etched its name into the ASEAN Records with the successful hosting of the Great Malaysia AI Hackathon 2025, hailed as the largest on-site artificial intelligence hackathon jointly organised by academia and industry in the region.
Held at the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) in collaboration with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), the event gathered 1,741 participants, including 1,547 university students and 194 industry professionals. More than 50 local and international institutions were represented, with Malaysian students from Durham and Cambridge Universities also joining the competition.
With a prize pool of RM110,000 and the support of 20 industry mentors, the hackathon underscored Malaysia’s growing ambition to become a leading hub for AI talent in Southeast Asia.
AI nation by 2030
Launching the hackathon, Minister of Digital YB Gobind Singh Deo stressed the importance of artificial intelligence in reshaping societies and industries.
“All of us here understand the real impact of AI—how it is already transforming the way we live and work, and how it requires us to build new structures for further digital transformation,” he said. “AI begins with data. Data must be digitised, stored, and shared effectively. And, of course, we need computing power. Without it, even the best data cannot be used to create meaningful solutions.”
Gobind called on students to embrace creativity, collaboration, and innovation. “With your creativity, drive, and collaboration with industry and government, I am confident Malaysia will emerge as a digital nation, and as the Prime Minister has said, an AI nation by 2030,” he said.
The hackathon was supported by MDEC’s Premier Digital Tech Institutions initiative, with participants tackling challenge statements guided by industry mentors. The presence of technology sponsors such as AxrailAI, Crayon, and eCloudValley, alongside partners including GitLab and Korn Ferry, further demonstrated the scale of public-private collaboration.
For AWS, the event highlighted the opportunity to empower the next generation of builders. “Every great idea, every great company, every great breakthrough starts in a room like this,” said Peter Murray, AWS Head of Asia Pacific and Japan Go-to-Market. “Looking around this room today, I see the future tech leaders of Malaysia.”
In a surprise announcement, AWS doubled its initial sponsorship of cloud credits, granting US$100 per sandbox account to participants to develop their solutions.
Setting a benchmark for the region
As participants designed and pitched their AI-powered projects, the atmosphere was charged with energy across three packed halls at APU’s Technology Park Malaysia campus. Beyond competition, the hackathon created opportunities for networking, cross-sector learning, and the practical application of emerging technologies.
Datuk Parmjit Singh, Chief Executive Officer of APU, described the achievement as a culmination of long-standing collaboration between academia, industry, and government. “This Great Malaysia AI Hackathon has attracted an overwhelming response,” he said.
With its entry into the ASEAN Records, the hackathon not only set a milestone for Malaysia but also reflected the nation’s commitment to developing digital talent at scale.
As Gobind noted, the nation already has the infrastructure and ecosystem to thrive in the digital economy. What will make the difference, he emphasised, is talent and mindset—qualities on full display at Malaysia’s record-breaking AI hackathon.
Jimmy Tan
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