17/02/2026

TUESDAY | FEB 17, 2026

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EDUCATION NEWS

Students design innovative app

o MyLayak paves the way forward for Malaysians to check eligibility for subsidies

F OUR students from Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) have developed an app with a difference at a nationwide Smart ID hackathon, presenting a breakthrough digital solution. The app provides a secure pathway for Malaysians to access public services, securely, safely and privately. The system allows citizens to discover what services and subsidies they qualify for, without repeatedly filling in forms or exposing their sensitive data. From APU’s School of Computing (SoC), they formed Team J2CH and rose to the top of Malaysia’s highly competitive GODAMLah! 2.0 Smart ID Hackathon . They outshone 186 teams and 701 students from universities and colleges nationwide and clinched the champion title in the security track. The team comprised three cybersecurity students, Chye Yan Tong, Hong Rui Yi and Jeniffer Su Kai Li, together with a multimedia in technology student, Joan Yee Jie Ni. They were mentored by Chong Mien May, senior lecturer at SoC. Team J2CH secured the top prize of RM1,500 for their innovative eligibility verification solution.

GODAMLah! a nationwide hackathon centred on Smart ID, exploring how digital identity can power secure, inclusive and innovative services for Malaysia. The event brought together students, universities and industry partners to build real-world prototypes aligned with Malaysia’s MyDigitalID vision. Skills needed to develop the app Participants competed across three tracks, Inclusivity, Innovation and Security, with only the Top 9 teams advancing to the grand finale at Cyberview, Cyberjaya. Each track was awarded RM1,500 for first place, RM1,000 for second and RM500 for third, along with mentorship and national visibility. From 186 teams in the preliminary round, only 30 progressed to round two, and nine reached the finals. The journey tested not only technical skills but resilience, clarity of thinking and teamwork under pressure. In this competitive environment, Team J2CH distinguished themselves with “MyLayak”, a secure and privacy-preserving eligibility verification system. “MyLayak” enables citizens to verify their eligibility for government 2.0 was

The top three winners across the three tracks-Inclusivity, Innovation and Security-celebrate their victory at the conclusion of the live grand finale at Cyberview, Cyberjaya. Each track was awarded RM1,500 for first place, RM1,000 for second and RM500 for third.

“Students develop real-world skills such as communication, confidence and professionalism as they present ideas to judges and industry experts. “They learn to think on their feet, manage time under pressure and work effectively as a team. These experiences nurture leadership and responsibility while providing valuable exposure to peers and professionals. “Ultimately, such competitions shape adaptable, confident individuals ready for future challenges.”

rigorous coursework and hands-on learning approach. “This win marks APU’s second consecutive championship in the GODAMLah! series, following APU team’s triumph at GODAMLah! 1.0 in January 2025. “Together, these achievements solidfy APU’s standing as a breeding ground for talent in cybersecurity, digital identity and innovation driven computing.” Acknowledging the team’s growth, Chong said: “The greatest value of external competitions lies beyond technical knowledge.

programmes through kiosks or digital platforms, without revealing personal information or the eligibility rules themselves. The system supports physical ID cards, making it accessible to elderly users and those without smartphones. Team lead Susaid: “MyLayak” is a eligibility platform built around the idea: “Stop applying. Start receiving.” “The project required a strong foundation in secure system architecture, zero-trust principles, authentication mechanisms, cryptography and privacy-by-design areas, directly shaped by APU’s

The importance of humanity in leadership for the nation PUTRA Business School (PBS) successfully hosted the Professor of Practice (POP) Talk 2026 delivered by Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, Minister of Higher Education and PBS Professor of Practice, in a vibrant and lively session. It was held at the auditorium rashdan baba, the office building of the deputy vice- chancellor, PBS, UPM Serdang, titled, “Paradigm Shift in Higher Education: Bringing Humanity into Leadership for the Nation”. Itwas attended by PBS students, PBS academic partners, UPM faculty members, industry practitioners, and invited esteemed guests. The session provided a platform for participants to gain first-hand insights from a national leader and academic practitioner. In his role as Professor of Practice at Putra Business School,Dr Zambry delivered a comprehensive talk that underscored the importance of C A T I

launched Rancangan Pendidikan Tinggi Malaysia (RPTM). It is a government-led national initiative to strengthen and transform Malaysia’s higher education ecosystem, particularly in its M A T T

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grounding development in knowledge, values, and humanity. He emphasised that education carries a profound responsibility in shaping how societies understand balance and the future they aspire to build. While drawing from his extensive experience in governance and academia, he highlighted the need for higher education to extend beyond the conferral of credentials by cultivating habits of thought, ethical judgment and principled leadership. During the session, Dr Zambry further elaborated on the role of higher education in shaping Malaysia’s future, stressing its responsibility in forming leaders who are intellectually competent, ethically grounded, and guided by a strong sense of humanity. He noted that universities play a critical role in influencing how the nation approaches leadership, governance, and the evolving landscape of higher education. Prof Dr. Azmawani Abd Rahman, president and CEO of PBS, also commented on the significance of the session, noting that the leadership insights shared by the Minister resonated strongly with the recently E D U B Y D H A R S

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emphasis on human centred and values based leadership. She added that PBS was proud to host the Professor of Practice session, which reinforced S

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PBS’s mission to offer high-impact learning experiences that connect academic theory with practical leadership insights, thus preparing graduates to contribute responsibly and effectively to society. PBS is a postgraduate business school located in Serdang. Academic programmes offered at PBS are MBA, PGCert, DBA, Phd and MSc. To balance between theory and practice, PBS’s globally recognized courses are facilitated by experienced industry practitioners and academics. PBS is currently an AACSB (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accredited school. PBS was ranked as the 1st MBA (Open and Distance Learning Mode) programme in Malaysia, and 9th in Asia-Pacific by the QS Online MBA Rankings 2026. It was also ranked as 1st MBA (International Business) programme in Malaysia, 11th in Asia, and 64th globally by the QS International Trade Banking 2026.

Dr Zambry emphasised in his POP talk the importance of grounding development in knowledge, values and humanity.

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