Google Developer Group Cloud Kuala Lumpur (GDG Cloud KL) hosted a cloud meetup at APU, featuring a keynote by Google’s Mr Saad Hamid and community-driven sessions that connected students and developers with Google Cloud learning and community exchange.

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Google Developer Group Cloud Kuala Lumpur (GDG Cloud KL) brought an engaging and community-driven cloud technology meetup to the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) campus as part of the DevFest KL 2025 series. 

The event formed part of a nationwide celebration of innovation, learning, and collaboration within Malaysia’s growing technology ecosystem.

Organised by one of the country’s key Google-backed developer communities, and supported by Google Developer Groups, the session created an inviting space for students, developers, and tech enthusiasts to connect, learn, and explore the latest developments in Google Cloud technologies. 

The atmosphere reflected the community’s commitment to making advanced cloud knowledge accessible, practical, and engaging for learners at all stages.

The programme was designed to be both informative and enjoyable, and it commenced with a keynote address by Mr Saad Hamid, Regional Lead for Developer Ecosystem at Google Singapore. 

In his keynote, Mr Saad shared insights into the evolving cloud landscape, emphasising the importance of continuous learning, community collaboration, and the role of cloud technologies in shaping future careers.

“Cloud technology is no longer just an infrastructure choice. It is a foundation for innovation,” he said, added “Communities like GDG Cloud KL play a crucial role in empowering developers and students to learn, experiment, and build confidently for the future.”

Attendees were welcomed with complimentary coffee, Google-branded cookies, and popcorn, creating a relaxed and social atmosphere that encouraged networking and informal conversations throughout the day. 

The welcoming environment helped participants feel comfortable engaging with speakers, mentors, and fellow developers.

Participants had the opportunity to interact directly with cloud experts, ask questions, and exchange experiences while gaining practical insights into cloud-native solutions, machine learning on Google Cloud, and emerging trends within the cloud ecosystem. 

The community-led format strongly reflected GDG Cloud KL’s mission to make cloud learning approachable, relevant, and inclusive.

By combining technical learning with light refreshments and an open networking environment, GDG Cloud KL successfully fostered a strong sense of community and excitement around cloud computing, transforming a Sunday at APU into a memorable and energising experience for local tech talent.

As the official Google-backed community in Malaysia dedicated to cloud technologies, GDG Cloud KL brought together cloud engineers, software developers, data professionals, AI practitioners, and technology enthusiasts seeking to deepen their expertise in modern cloud infrastructure and scalable computing. 

The community was well known for organising hands-on workshops, technical deep dives, expert talks, and community-driven learning sessions covering areas such as cloud architecture and deployment, AI and machine learning on Google Cloud, big data analytics, Kubernetes and DevOps, serverless applications, and enterprise cloud solutions.

As a sister community to GDG Kuala Lumpur, GDG Cloud KL played a significant role in shaping Malaysia’s cloud talent landscape, supporting both students and professionals in staying competitive within an increasingly dynamic technology environment.

Behind the scenes, the event was led by Mr Johnson Chin Hong Wei, Lead of GDG Cloud KL, who expressed enthusiasm about returning to APU to organise the session. 

Mr Johnson, an APU Software Engineering alumnus from the Class of 2025 and currently a Software Engineer at Virtual Protocol, returned to APU, highlighting the strong ties between the university and its alumni community.

Another highlight of the event was a technical sharing session by APU Software Engineering alumnus from the Class of 2024, Mr Vandyck Lai Kai Yong, who also returned to campus to deliver a talk titled Building Your First AI Agent: A Practical Introduction to ADK. 

His session provided attendees with practical exposure to AI agent development and reinforced the value of alumni contributions to student learning.

The success of the event was further strengthened by the active involvement of two School of Computing (SoC) staff members, Mr Jacob Sow Tian You (Senior Lecturer) and Associate Professor Ts Dr Vinothini Kasinathan, who worked closely with the organising team to ensure seamless coordination and contribute to the overall success of the cloud meetup.