Bringing Innovation to Life with UMPSA Hackathon and NovaCloud
On a bright morning of May 28, 2025, the campus of Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) buzzed with energy. It was the day of the UMPSA Hackathon X: Pekan Smart City 2025, where students from across Malaysia came together to turn ideas into real solutions that could help transform Pekan, the royal town of Pahang, into a smarter, more connected city. This hackathon showcased the potential of smart city development powered by innovative AI and cloud technology.
How the Cloud for Students Program Helped Power Smart City Ideas
The story actually began months before, when a group of passionate university students decided to organize their second hackathon. Their goal? To tackle the everyday challenges Pekan, Pahang faces — traffic jams in the evenings, inefficient waste management, public safety concerns, and unlocking the town’s tourism potential. Pekan is on a bold path to becoming a smart city, blending technology with the warmth and spirit of Malaysian life.
Why We Chose to Support as a Trusted Cloud Service Provider in Malaysia
When the student committee reached out to us at IP ServerOne, a trusted cloud service provider in Malaysia, we were excited to be part of this meaningful journey. Through our Cloud for Students program, we offered each team RM600 worth of credits to use on NovaCloud, our public cloud hosting platform. This meant students could easily deploy their smart city apps, test their ideas, and scale up if needed using secure and reliable cloud hosting services. To help them get started, we ran a virtual workshop where we showed how to create a WordPress website in just minutes and even build a simple AI chatbot — skills that could bring their smart city concepts to life.
The “Fantastic Four” Road Trip to Pekan
Our trip to Pekan itself was a slice of classic Malaysian road trip culture. Four of us set off early, driving through the humid tropical morning, stopping by familiar R&R stops for kopi-o (black coffee) and some roti (bread). The journey took over four hours. Despite the heat, we were just too excited to feel tired — we couldn’t wait to see what the students had built.
Experiencing Malaysian Hospitality at UMPSA Hackathon X
Once we arrived at UMPSA, we were greeted with the warm friendliness Malaysians are known for. The students welcomed us like family, guiding us to a cool, air-conditioned room — a true blessing in the tropical heat — and served us ice-cold Ribena, a sweet and refreshing drink perfect for the weather.
A Quick Chat with the Tuan Rumah
We managed to steal a few moments with the people running the show — Zaki, the programme director, and his right-hand man, Azad. Despite being a little camera-shy (we get it, who isn’t?), they gave us a peek behind the curtain of what it takes to pull off a student-led hackathon like this. Questions like:
- What’s the story behind this year’s hackathon theme?
- What kind of solutions were students expected to come up with, and what were the judges really looking for?
- How did the team plan everything, and who handled what?
- What was the toughest part of making it all happen — and how did you guys push through?
- Will there be another one next year? (Spoiler alert: we really hope so.)
Honestly, we were amazed. These students weren’t just organizing an event — juggling assignments, exams, and campus life too. Every little detail was thought out and handled by this passionate crew. Hats off to the team. Terbaik lah, UMPSA!
Sharing IP ServerOne’s Vision as a Cloud Hosting Provider in Malaysia
The event hall was filled with smiles, laughter, and the nervous energy that only a competition like this can bring. Though the hackathon itself had wrapped up, anticipation hung thick as everyone waited to find out which teams would take home the grand prizes. We could feel the pride and passion the students had poured into their work.
During the day, we shared about IP ServerOne — who we are, the cloud services we offer, and opportunities for internships, especially for students eager to grow their tech skills in cloud computing in Malaysia. But more importantly, we learned about Pekan’s culture through the students. When we asked about local food, the answer was unanimous: ayam gepuk. This spicy, flavorful dish definitely lived up to its fiery reputation — a perfect reflection of Malaysia’s love for bold and action-pack flavors —if you know what we mean 😉.
Blending Technology with Malaysian Culture to Build Smart Cities
What truly made the experience unforgettable was how these young minds balance modern ambitions with traditional values. This town, with its kampung (village) soul and warm community spirit, is proof that progress doesn’t mean losing what makes a place special. The harmony of smart technology and the Malaysian heart is what will potentially make Pekan into a smart city that’s not only efficient but full of life.
Building the Future with Managed Cloud Services in Malaysia
The UMPSA Hackathon X: Pekan Smart City 2025 was more than just a tech competition — it was a celebration of innovation, teamwork, and Malaysian warmth. We’re honored to be able to support academia from programs like our Cloud for Students and NovaCloud hosting. We’re confident that young talents across Malaysia are ready to build smarter, more sustainable cities that still feel like home.Thank you, UMPSA and Pekan, for welcoming us with open arms and sharing this journey. It truly felt like rumah sendiri — a home away from home.
