KUCHING: The Information Communication Technology (ICT) gap between rural and urban areas is still seen as a big challenge in the state.
To prevent rural areas from being left out, the problem must be dealt with immediately, Minister of Infrastructure and Communication Development Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong opined.
“The urban-poor ICT gap needs to be bridged even though it is a big challenge, it is not impossible.
“We need to think of ways to integrate smart devices to help in the livelihood of rural folks that will bring meaningful and beneficial effects from a socio-economic perspective,” he said in his speech during the 8th International Conference on IT In Asia here, yesterday.
Among those present was Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) vice-chancellor Prof Dato Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi.
Manyin at the same time also hopes that this conference will be able to find a solution to help rural folks.
Other than that, he also urged the community to be prepared for the impact that technological changes would bring to their daily lives.
Among the changes that can be seen, he noted, is the result of integrating smart devices to further enhance the way people work, learn and most importantly, interact with one another.
“I believe in the effort to be a competitive nation in the international level, we can adapt to the lifestyle of the future and develop something that reflects the nation’s identity and aspiration,” he said.