Innovation the way forward

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Abang Johari wants Sarawakians to come up with solution to reduce manpower in oil palm estates

Abang Johari (fourth left) and Riot (fifth right) share some light moments after the closing ceremony gimmick. Manyin is seen at third left. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi

KUCHING: Sarawakians have been challenged to come up with a harvester to reduce the dependence on manpower in oil palm estates.

Speaking at the closing of the three-day WorldSkills Malaysia Sarawak 2017 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here yesterday, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg encouraged Sarawakians to be innovative and embrace artificial intelligence (AI) in coming up with a tool to harvest oil palm fruits due to the perennial shortage of labour.

“I am willing to fund the research on oil palm harvester because oil palm is one of our main industries.

“We need to pluck oil palm fruits and AI, through signal, can help achieve this. If the fruits are not ripe, red signal is sent; if the fruits are semi ripe, yellow signal is sent; if the fruits are ripe, pluck,” he said.

The challenge was specifically issued to the Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak and Melbourne campuses.

“I challenge Swinburne in Sarawak and in Melbourne to create it (harvester) to pluck oil palm fruits. Because of issues pertaining to workers, we have to find alternative solution,” he said.

Earlier, he said what mattered to Sarawak would be promoting the culture of innovation among its people in order to move the state forward.

Citing the excavator as an example, he said the idea originated from a hoe as the creator merely extended the arm of the hoe on top of a lorry.

In the same way, he believed that Sarawakians could do the state proud by coming up with an oil palm harvester to solve the lack of manpower in the industry once and for all.

In this respect, technical and vocational education training (Tvet) plays a key role in producing highly skilled individuals in the state, he added.

He said the state government would introduce a new bill in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) next month to pave way for the setting-up of a research council to coordinate the implementation of various policies between scientists and government agencies.

The Chief Minister said his administration also aspired to set up more innovation hubs throughout the state to digitise the economy.

As of yesterday, he said Kuching and Sarikei already had their respective innovation hubs while Betong would soon have one.

“And we will extend it to Miri, Bintulu, Limbang and Lawas,” he said, and hoped that Sarawakians would make full use of those facilities to develop innovative products.

He also expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for allocating RM1 billion in Budget 2018 for Sarawak and Sabah to enhance Internet facilities, increasing the total fund for Internet infrastructure development in Sarawak to RM1.5 billion.

Prior to the tabling of the national budget on Friday, Abang Johari had set aside RM1 billion from the state’s coffers to, among others, build more telecommunication towers across Sarawak.

Zacchaeus holding up the Chief Minister’s Golden Hand trophy after receiving it from Abang Johari (fifth right). Seen are Riot (third right) and Manyin (fifth left). — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi

At the event, he presented the Chief Minister’s Golden Hand Award to Zacchaeus Labang Unyuk from the National Youth Skills Institute Miri.

Zacchaeus, who also emerged champion in the automobile technology category, walked away with a total of RM8,000, medals and certificates.

Among those present were Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem and Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong.