Young coders shine, to represent Malaysia at international event in Bangkok next month

Over 170 young coders pushed the boundaries of innovation at the recent MindHack Malaysia 2025.

Through coding, 3D design, and robotics, participants aged 7 to 17 from CIY.Club centres nationwide showcased how technology can preserve and celebrate culture while driving innovation.

This year’s theme, Warisan Digital: Colours of Malaysia, challenged participants to incorporate elements of the nation’s rich and diverse cultural heritage into their projects.

The gold award winner for the Heroes age group (11–14) in the coding and animation category was Team Hari-Hari Mau Lari, comprising Fong Zen Wen, Khaw Xin Yu, and Chi’ng Xi Yiq. Their project, Harimau Adventure – a 2D platformer built using Construct 3 – pays tribute to Malaysia’s uniqueness by highlighting its culture, heritage, and natural beauty.

In the masters age group (15–17) for 3D design and modelling, the gold award went to Team GoBig or GoHome, made up of Cheong Xin Ni, Cheong Zhe Hann, and Yong Hao Ning. Their winning entry, GoBig Merdeka Parade, is a 3D showcase of Malaysia’s 68th Merdeka anniversary, carrying the motto Malaysia Madani, Rakyat Disantuni. It highlights Malaysia’s cultural diversity and landmarks such as KLCC, Dataran Merdeka, and KL Tower.

Meanwhile, the gold award for the masters (11–14) electronics and robotics category went to Team CO2, comprising Sivendran Shashi Khanna and Teh Hong Qian. Their entry, Reactive Arduino Youthful Arcade (R.A.Y.A.), was inspired by the traditional Malaysian game congkak.

The gold innovator award winners, along with selected silver creator recipients, will represent Malaysia at the International MindHack finals in Bangkok on Nov 22.

Kuala Lumpur Education Department deputy director (student development sector) Aziz Hashim said nurturing a generation that is globally competitive yet rooted in local heritage was crucial. He said this could be achieved through collaboration with industry players and non-governmental organisations.

“Empowering our young generation with 21st-century skills is not just about knowledge, but the ability to think critically, solve problems creatively, and innovate through technology,” Aziz said.

The inaugural national coding tournament was organised by Scope IT Education (M) Sdn Bhd in collaboration with MyDigitalMaker. The event was supported by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and sponsored by SNS Network (M) Sdn Bhd.

Scope IT Education director Linggam Rammoo said this year’s theme was chosen to empower the next generation to innovate while staying connected to Malaysia’s cultural roots.

MindHack is an international coding tournament platform that nurtures creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration among youth aged 7 to 17. First launched by CIY.Club and Scope IT Education Associates in Myanmar in 2022, it has since expanded to other countries, including Thailand and Malaysia.