Abang Johari (second right), flanked by (from right) Morshidi, Uggah, Awang Tengah and Masing, after the launch of Sarawak Open Data platform.
KUCHING: The state government will formulate the best strategy to enable Sarawakians understand what digital economy is all about and embrace the technology as a way to improve their economic standing.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the strategy would encompass every level of society, including those in the rural areas.
“We will explore all the various strategies so that the gap between the rural people and the urban people are narrowed, not only in terms of physical relationship but also the level of their economic relationship,” he said at the closing of the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (Idecs) here yesterday.
On Idecs, Abang Johari said it had given them an insight on the level of understanding as far as digital economy was concerned but pointed out that a lot of things had to be done, particularly in the context of Sarawak’s economy as the level of comprehension differed from one level to another.
He noted that one of the benefits from Idecs was the feedback and that the state government hoped the rural population would be able to embrace digital economy in terms of food production as well as in transactions.
The Chief Minister believed that by 2030 Sarawak will be at the forefront or the best state in Malaysia in terms of economic performance, based on three main factors – Sarawak’s ample resources, good population demography and strategic location.
He noted that Sarawak has ample sunlight, which is a good source of solar energy, and water to produce electricity and hydrogen.
“Equally important is our population demography as we got about 60 per cent of our population who are 50 years and below.
“And we have to create jobs for them and they must be creative and they are creative. Meaning we can make use of this human talent for us to add value to the resources that I have mentioned,” he said.
Abang Johari also pointed out that Sarawak today is strategically located in the new world economy, where it has the giants nearby.
He said the state has India, China and Asean, which are all potential markets for Sarawak.
“Although our population is only 2.7 million, let us make this 2.7 million people share resources and their economy with their neighbours.
“If that can be achieved I have a feeling that Sarawak is in the right strategic location. It depends of course on us now.
“If Singapore can become a first world without resources, if Korea and Japan can transform themselves with limited resources, I think Sarawak can perform better with the right talent and the resources that we have,” he said.
At the event, Abang Johari also launched the Sarawak Open Data platform.
Deputy chief ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, and State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani were present.