Malaysia’s Top Coding Talents Shine at Top Coders Malaysia

19 November 2025

CYBERJAYA: The Top Coders National Grand Finals 2025, Malaysia’s largest and most competitive coding competition, successfully concluded on Saturday at the University of Cyberjaya. The event showcased exceptional programming talent from tertiary institutions across the country and reinforced Malaysia’s commitment to developing digital skills.

Now in its second edition, the competition is organised by the Data Science Association of Malaysia (DSA) and Thulija Technologies Sdn Bhd. The Grand Finals brought together 280 participants forming 140 teams from 34 universities. The finalists secured their places after months of pre-competition workshops, rigorous university-level qualifying rounds, and preparatory coding bootcamps, impacting more than 5,000 participants nationwide.

The Top Coders National Coding Challenge was established to address a vital gap in Malaysia’s digital talent pipeline by providing students with a platform to apply their coding knowledge beyond the classroom. While universities teach core concepts, many students lack exposure to high-pressure, real-world problem-solving environments that hone computational thinking and algorithmic mastery. The competition aims to bridge this gap by fostering resilience, precision, and innovation through structured challenges that mirror industry standards. Fundamentally, Top Coders seeks to nurture a generation of highly skilled programmers, strengthen Malaysia’s position as a regional digital talent hub, and inspire more young people to pursue careers in software engineering, AI, data science, and emerging technological fields.

In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Azrin Esmady Ariffin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of UoC, stated, “Top Coders is precisely the high-impact platform Malaysia needs to future-proof its talent pipeline. The energy, discipline, and problem-solving agility demonstrated by these young coders reflect the calibre of innovators our nation must continue to nurture. Such competitions do more than showcase talent; they enhance Malaysia’s competitive edge in the global digital economy.”

Gopalakrishnan Kolandai, Secretary-General of the Data Science Association of Malaysia, underscored the wider significance of the event. “Top Coders is not just a competition; it is a movement,” he said. “It embodies Malaysia’s vision to cultivate a generation of digitally skilled innovators capable of solving real-world challenges through technology. The championship is a flagship initiative that nurtures computational thinking and advanced programming skills, providing students with a platform to apply logical reasoning, algorithmic thinking, and problem-solving to practical issues.”

The Grand Finals saw Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) secure both first and second positions, with Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) claiming third:

First Place: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) – Aqil Danish Mohammad Yusof and Muhammad Alif Syahmi Normahadu 

Second Place: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) – Nurfarhannis Nabila Mohd Fauzi and Aisyah Humaira Nasrudin 

Third Place: Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) – Chong Sing Kiat and Nicholas Tan Hong Junn 

Fourth Place: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) – Chung Hao Jun and Chris Low Xiao Hiang 

Fifth Place: Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) – Muhammad Darwish Hamdan and Selva Kumar A/L Krishnamurthi 

First-place winner Muhammad Alif Syahmi from UPM commented, “I have participated in hackathons before, but this competition is very different. It focuses entirely on coding, which I really enjoy. Hackathons are about developing something new, whereas this is more like a game—a fun challenge that inspires me.”

Second-place winner Nurfarhannis Nabila from UPM added, “I’ve been watching coders on LinkedIn who are at a higher level than me and wondered, ‘How can I achieve that?’ That feeling motivated me to join this competition. Initially, I had little knowledge of coding, but I’ve realised it becomes easier with consistency and passion for learning.”

Third-place winner Chong Sing Kiat from UTP shared, “Coding is a hobby for me, but it tests my immediate thinking and computational skills. I enjoy hackathons, and competitions like this motivate me to improve. Our team has participated in several competitions outside our academic curriculum.”

The Top Coders Malaysia - National Grand Finals 2025 was organised in collaboration with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), ServiceNow, and the University of Cyberjaya. It also received support from the National ICT Association of Malaysia, Microsoft Corporation, Amazon Web Services, Cisco Systems, Censof Holdings Berhad, Genuine Technologies, and eBox – Amphisoft Technologies.

A key highlight of the Top Coders National Level Coding Challenge was the integration of E-Box, an innovative coding platform transforming how programming is taught and learned. Unlike traditional theory-driven methods, E-Box emphasises hands-on, real-time coding practice, enabling students to sharpen their logical reasoning, optimise algorithms, and receive instant feedback on their solutions. The platform simulates real-world problem scenarios, allowing participants to develop industry-relevant competencies while fostering creativity and resilience. Its incorporation into the competition demonstrates a shift towards experiential learning, ensuring that young programmers gain not just knowledge but true mastery through continuous practice and application.

Held alongside the Grand Finals, the Technology–Academia–Industry (T-AI) Forum 2025 brought together leaders from government, academia, and industry to discuss AI transformation, digital innovation, and strategic talent development.

Ravichandran Balasubramanian, Special Duties Officer to the Deputy Minister of Digital, stated, “The question is not whether Malaysia will embrace the digital future, but how fast and how boldly we are prepared to do so. This is why the Ministry of Digital is driving the Malaysia Madani digital economy—a Malaysia where technology empowers society, innovation fosters shared prosperity, and digitalisation acts as a national equaliser. The skills our young coders are developing today will shape the nation’s AI, cybersecurity, and technological landscape tomorrow. Top Coders provides the platform for them to dream big, innovate, and build solutions that do not yet exist, ensuring Malaysia’s digital future is in capable hands.”

Senator Dr Jufitri Joha, Board Director of TalentCorp, added, “Talent is the currency of the future, and today I see that currency right here in this hall. Top Coders is more than a competition; it is a nation-building mechanism, an investment in our youth, and a clear signal that Malaysia is serious about nurturing world-class digital talent. This initiative also reminds us of the importance of creating inclusive pathways for all students, strengthening industry–academia collaboration, and equipping our youth with the skills to attract high-value investment, drive innovation, and elevate Malaysia as a regional talent hub.”

With growing participation and increased engagement from industry, the Top Coders National Grand Finals continues to serve as a vital platform for developing world-class Malaysian programmers and advancing the nation’s digital and AI capabilities.