Malaysian Engineer Earns Apple Recognition, Boosting Local Tech Community Pride
KUALA LUMPUR: Mohammad Hasif Afiq has drawn attention after becoming the first Malaysian selected for Apple’s global developer recognition programme.
Hasif, who currently serves as a senior iOS engineer at Grab, was selected alongside around 50 app developers and technology community leaders from various countries in the programme’s inaugural group.
He described the announcement from Apple as an emotional and unforgettable moment after receiving an official email from the company’s Developer Relations team.
According to him, he repeatedly checked the email because he could hardly believe his name had been included in the international programme.
“I was genuinely shocked and grateful. Realising that I was the only Malaysian on the list made the experience even more meaningful and emotional,” he said.
Mohammad Hasif Afiq said the recognition proves that local Malaysian talent is capable of gaining attention from world-class technology companies.
He hopes the achievement will inspire more local developers to confidently showcase their work internationally and pursue opportunities on the global stage.
He said his interest in app development started at the age of 17 after becoming fascinated by Apple technology, leading him to learn independently through experimentation and personal projects.
He later pursued Computer Science studies at Universiti Teknologi MARA in Shah Alam before becoming actively involved in mobile application development and the technology industry.
Over the years, he has created several applications including Amalan Mukmin, Vacay, Hidayah App, Lylyn App and Bantu App.
According to him, the Bantu App gained significant traction during the Covid-19 pandemic by helping the public access assistance and important information more efficiently.
Professionally, he also contributed to the development of the Boost Business platform and was among the earliest engineers at GXBank before joining Grab.
Beyond application development, he has also been actively involved in strengthening Malaysia’s technology ecosystem through the establishment of SwiftLah! in April last year.
The community has since expanded to more than 200 members through technical sharing sessions, developer meetups and professional networking activities.
-wilayah.com.my
