Tiong (centre) and Gan (second left) during the press conference.
KUCHING (September 10): The Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) is exploring real-world use cases of blockchain technology in the state as part of its effort to accelerate digital adoption and innovation in the state.
SMA general manager Dato Dr Anderson Tiong said the authority has been tasked with driving digital technology adoption, with blockchain identified as one of the areas of focus.
“Cryptocurrency and non-fungible token (NFT) are just some of the applications of blockchain.
“It can also be used for the protection of records such as health data and government documents. These are areas that we need to explore,” he told a press conference at the inaugural Borneo Blockchain Conference on Wednesday.
He said blockchain is being researched as an alternation to existing systems already rely on certification and public key infrastructure for data protection.
Blockchain is a decentralised digital ledger that stores records securely across a network of computers in a way that is transparent, immutable and resistant to tampering. Information is grouped into digital “blocks” that are linked together in a chronological “chain.”
The Borneo Blockchain Conference, to be held on Oct 9 and 10 at the Borneo Cultures Museum, is organised by the Kuching Blockchain Technology Association (KBTA), supported by SMA, Business Events Sarawak, Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation, Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak, and Human Resource Development Corporation.
It will highlight the role of blockchain in enhancing trust, transparency and efficiency in supply chain management, renewable energy, financial inclusion, digital identity and the creative economy.
The event is expected to attract over 300 delegates and 14 speakers from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Germany, the United Kingdom and other countries.
KBTA president James Gan highlighted that blockchain has often been misunderstood and associated only with cryptocurrency scams.
“Many people associate blockchain with scams or electricity theft. But we forget about the good things it can achieve globally. Many countries already use blockchain for certification, digital identity and asset tokenisation. These are real use cases, beyond NFTs,” he said.
Gan added that blockchain’s transparency and immutability make it suitable for applications such as halal certification and university certificates.
“Because of past bad experiences, we are starting late, but that is also an advantage. We can adopt the use cases that have already been proven elsewhere.
“This first blockchain conference is a good start to educate, engage and create an ecosystem with academia, industry and regulators,” he said.
He added that blockchain can provide a trusted and secure environment while helping to curb scams.
“We need to start somewhere, and I don’t want our government to miss out on this trend and the real use cases happening globally,” he said.