Tiong (left) presents a souvenir to Tiang.
SIBU (Aug 23): The Sarawak government through the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) is fully backing efforts to develop the state’s digital and creative content industry as part of the Sarawak Digital Economy Master Plan.
State Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang said this aligned with the state government’s aspirations of making Sibu a hub for content creators, innovators and digital entrepreneurs.
“Our vision is to turn Sibu into a centre for exchanging ideas and collaboration, as well as exploring new opportunities in the digital world. Developing the digital economy not only requires technological advancements, but it also relies on the strength of creativity and content creation.
“Technology is a tool but the real heartbeat of the digital world lies in content creation. Without creative and engaging content, technology would be bland,” he said when officiating the National Multimedia and Content Creators Conference (NMCCC) here today.
The Pelawan assemblyman said quality content creation and storytelling not only drives the growth of the multimedia industry, but plays a crucial role in the tourism and business sectors.
“I was informed that to make Sibu a more valuable tourist destination, we need to create compelling storytelling. Even in business, products that come with convincing stories will hold greater value,” he said.
Tiang hoped conferences such as NMCCC would catalyse a more dynamic digital ecosystem in Sarawak, and produce more content creators capable of putting the state on the Southeast Asian digital economy map.
“I truly hope that through this platform, more friendships, collaborations and new successes will be born. Let us all become comrades in shaping the future, whether in the fields of technology, business or the creative industry,” he said.
The inaugural two-day conference was organised by the Sibu Multimedia Digital Practitioners Association, and gathered over 300 creative industry players, social media influencers and technology experts from across the country to join in knowledge-sharing sessions, workshops and industry forums featuring local and international creative content creators.
Also present were Sibu MP Oscar Ling, Sibu Municipal council chairman Clarence Ting and Sibu Multimedia Digital Practitioners Association president Tiong Hua Kiong.