Page 2 - DE Booklet - V5
P. 2
FOREWORD
My irst priority for Sarawak since becoming the Chief
Minister on the 13th January 2017 was to bring about a major
paradigm shift in our development strategy. We have so far
been relying heavily on non-renewable resources for our
economic development and this is clearly not sustainable
in the long run. It was quite obvious, then, with the whole
world focused on emerging technologies such as gaming
and animation, big data, cloud computing, blockchains,
artiicial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and renewable
energy, we have to enter without hesitation into the digital
world so that Sarawak will have a chance of enjoying high
income.
I immediately asked the State Secretary to organise an
international conference on the digital economy in Sarawak
and spearhead the Digital Economy Transformation. The
irst International ICT Infrastructure and Digital Economy
Sarawak (IDECS) - Transforming Sarawak through the Digital
Economy - was held on the 3rd and 4th of April 2017 in
Kuching featuring notable local and international speakers
with over 1,500 delegates. During the closing ceremony
of the conference, I also announced that Sarawak will set
up the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), the Sarawak
Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Development Bank of
Sarawak (DBOS), as well as a strategic plan for developing
the digital economy of Sarawak.
I am therefore pleased to present the ive years Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy (2018-2022), in which we set out the
possible directions Sarawak can take in order to leapfrog into the digital economy to be at the forefront of the digital world.
In our search for a practical digital strategy for Sarawak, we visited a few countries, particularly Australia, Finland, Estonia,
Germany, France and China. The biggest lesson we learnt is that digital economy is not merely about the frontier of the digital
technology, but also ideas about how society can be organised more eficiently while protecting personal information and
privacy which implies vigilance in the area of cybersecurity. Digital economy is also about being able to apply technology in
a cost-effective manner. Going ‘digital’ is now a global trend, and Sarawak should also be involved in it, averse to any risks
and making wise decisions each step of the way.
As such, the digital economy is about the eficacy in which digital technology is applied to our everyday lives. To achieve this,
we require diverse talents to create a new way of life for the people of Sarawak. The digital technology can then certainly be
used to make our lives easier and simpler, and hopefully richer. It is really up to each and every one of us to embrace digital
technologies in the best way that we can to make our own lives better, if not the lives of our neighbours.
I certainly see the development of the digital economy to be a collaborative effort between the government, the private
business sector and the people of Sarawak. The government’s role is to provide basic but necessary infrastructure to build the
digital economy. In the urban setting, the digital infrastructure is adequate for building digital business and other commercial
applications. The challenges in building the digital infrastructure tend to increase going into the more rural and remote areas
of Sarawak. These challenges are worth taking up, for us to reach remote areas and provide them an avenue to connect with
the rest of the world, thereby creating greater economic opportunities.
I am aware that the creation of new business opportunities is a major challenge for us in Sarawak. Sarawak is small and
isolated, which has always been a disadvantage for us in development. I see the digital technology as an opportunity for
Sarawak to remove the constraints of a small and isolated economy. We need to see the potential of opening up our local
economy in the hopes of strengthening our digital connection with the rest of the world.
Looking forward to the horizon, the next ive years is a time which we shall improve our digital coverage as well as speed,
motivate young talents to get involved in coding and product development, businesses to make their presence felt on
the Internet through their websites and mobile apps, local business participation in global e-commerce platforms, the
development of our own electronic payment system called SarawakPay – which will revolutionise making payments, in a
more secured and convenient way. I also foresee its use across all local transactions; integrated into all government services
online. The launch of our own big data along with the sharing of database by the Federal Government, this creates more
opportunities for our communities and our businesses, drive competitiveness and productivity, and strengthen connectivity
across Sarawak. The greater eficiency of mobility and connectivity in the major urban centres, and the general improvement
in our local economic environment suggests that there is a better future we can build for Sarawakians.
I hope in the months and years to come, you and I can put our heads together to build a robust and thriving digital economy
for Sarawak.
The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg
CHIEF MINISTER OF SARAWAK
2
My irst priority for Sarawak since becoming the Chief
Minister on the 13th January 2017 was to bring about a major
paradigm shift in our development strategy. We have so far
been relying heavily on non-renewable resources for our
economic development and this is clearly not sustainable
in the long run. It was quite obvious, then, with the whole
world focused on emerging technologies such as gaming
and animation, big data, cloud computing, blockchains,
artiicial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and renewable
energy, we have to enter without hesitation into the digital
world so that Sarawak will have a chance of enjoying high
income.
I immediately asked the State Secretary to organise an
international conference on the digital economy in Sarawak
and spearhead the Digital Economy Transformation. The
irst International ICT Infrastructure and Digital Economy
Sarawak (IDECS) - Transforming Sarawak through the Digital
Economy - was held on the 3rd and 4th of April 2017 in
Kuching featuring notable local and international speakers
with over 1,500 delegates. During the closing ceremony
of the conference, I also announced that Sarawak will set
up the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), the Sarawak
Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Development Bank of
Sarawak (DBOS), as well as a strategic plan for developing
the digital economy of Sarawak.
I am therefore pleased to present the ive years Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy (2018-2022), in which we set out the
possible directions Sarawak can take in order to leapfrog into the digital economy to be at the forefront of the digital world.
In our search for a practical digital strategy for Sarawak, we visited a few countries, particularly Australia, Finland, Estonia,
Germany, France and China. The biggest lesson we learnt is that digital economy is not merely about the frontier of the digital
technology, but also ideas about how society can be organised more eficiently while protecting personal information and
privacy which implies vigilance in the area of cybersecurity. Digital economy is also about being able to apply technology in
a cost-effective manner. Going ‘digital’ is now a global trend, and Sarawak should also be involved in it, averse to any risks
and making wise decisions each step of the way.
As such, the digital economy is about the eficacy in which digital technology is applied to our everyday lives. To achieve this,
we require diverse talents to create a new way of life for the people of Sarawak. The digital technology can then certainly be
used to make our lives easier and simpler, and hopefully richer. It is really up to each and every one of us to embrace digital
technologies in the best way that we can to make our own lives better, if not the lives of our neighbours.
I certainly see the development of the digital economy to be a collaborative effort between the government, the private
business sector and the people of Sarawak. The government’s role is to provide basic but necessary infrastructure to build the
digital economy. In the urban setting, the digital infrastructure is adequate for building digital business and other commercial
applications. The challenges in building the digital infrastructure tend to increase going into the more rural and remote areas
of Sarawak. These challenges are worth taking up, for us to reach remote areas and provide them an avenue to connect with
the rest of the world, thereby creating greater economic opportunities.
I am aware that the creation of new business opportunities is a major challenge for us in Sarawak. Sarawak is small and
isolated, which has always been a disadvantage for us in development. I see the digital technology as an opportunity for
Sarawak to remove the constraints of a small and isolated economy. We need to see the potential of opening up our local
economy in the hopes of strengthening our digital connection with the rest of the world.
Looking forward to the horizon, the next ive years is a time which we shall improve our digital coverage as well as speed,
motivate young talents to get involved in coding and product development, businesses to make their presence felt on
the Internet through their websites and mobile apps, local business participation in global e-commerce platforms, the
development of our own electronic payment system called SarawakPay – which will revolutionise making payments, in a
more secured and convenient way. I also foresee its use across all local transactions; integrated into all government services
online. The launch of our own big data along with the sharing of database by the Federal Government, this creates more
opportunities for our communities and our businesses, drive competitiveness and productivity, and strengthen connectivity
across Sarawak. The greater eficiency of mobility and connectivity in the major urban centres, and the general improvement
in our local economic environment suggests that there is a better future we can build for Sarawakians.
I hope in the months and years to come, you and I can put our heads together to build a robust and thriving digital economy
for Sarawak.
The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg
CHIEF MINISTER OF SARAWAK
2
