FICT team wins second place at Siber Siaga 2025

Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) students Tan Sin Chee and Lee Wei Song from the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT) secured second place and a cash prize of RM3,000 at the recent Siber Siaga Capture The Flag: Code Combat 2025, held from 30 September to 2 October 2025 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kompleks MITEC.

Coached by FICT academics Dr Farina Saffa binti Mohamad Samsamnun and Ts Dr Aun Yichiet, the duo was tested on their cybersecurity skills and knowledge in various areas, including reverse engineering, web vulnerabilities, Boot2Root, cryptography, and digital forensics. A total of 100 teams registered for the competition, with 75 qualifying for the preliminary rounds. From there, only 20 advanced to the final round.

The team shared, “Finishing second was a proud achievement for us and an inspiration. We also learned that success is never a solo effort. Everyone had a role to play and the whole experience further emphasised the importance of clear communication and trust among team members. We were fortunate to experience what it’s like to think under pressure, collaborate effectively, and solve real-world problems. It was truly insightful.”

Dr Aun commented, “The team gained an invaluable learning experience through their participation in this national event, expanding their knowledge and building meaningful connections within the industry. Competing with participants from various universities across Malaysia offered them a unique opportunity to showcase their talent beyond the campus.”

The Siber Siaga Capture The Flag: Code Combat 2025 is a national-level cybersecurity competition held as part of the broader Siber Siaga series. Now in its fourth edition, the challenge is led by the Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Division of the Malaysian Armed Forces, organised in collaboration with the Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) and supported by Mindmatics Sdn Bhd as the official sponsor. The Forensic and Cyber Security Research Centre Student Section (FSEC-SS) played a key role in shaping and delivering the competition experience.