Morshidi (seated centre) in a photo call with Sabariah (left), Valdew (right) and participants give their thumbs- up to the forum.


KUCHING: The local private sector is encouraged to participate in the digital economy as the way forward, says State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani.

“You are encouraged to start moving into this sector as we need your participation. The private sector must think about this. You can even initiate (the business) yourself.

“The government can only provide you with the infrastructure and facilitate you, but the real work has to come from the private sector,” he said at the opening ceremony of Sarawak Industry 4.0 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) forum at Institute City campus here yesterday.

Morshidi, however, added that participating in the digital economy alone was insufficient as those involved in the sector must also be interested in the subject.

In noting that TVET is one platform for Sarawakians to move into technology, he said the skills or even digital skills obtained would complement the government’s effort to push the state further, particularly, through the industrial sector, which is also part of the state’s vision in pursuing its digital economy.

“Everyone has to play a role now. We need Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence (SCOPE), Sarawak Civil Service Leadership Institute and Centre of Technical Excellence (Centex) to play their role to ensure that we are supporting the vision.

“Our support comes in the context of awareness and later on in the area of skills development. This is where TVET comes in. Of course, the platform we are using is Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) which will bring in more industries that are supposed to bring in a lot of spin-offs (industries).

“Of course, there are also supporting industries to the main industry. I give you a simple example; the industry in Samalaju is generating other sectors like services and retail sectors. All these require skills of people in managing the place, be it management, maintenance or e-commerce trading.”

Moshidi said looking around the world today where Industry 4.0 has been part of the advanced nations, like US and European Union, one could not deny that it has arrived and changed the traditional way of industrialisation.
“Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg talks about hydrogen (energy) and electric vehicle.

These are not mere talk. We should go into electric vehicles because we have a lot of energy produced by Batang Ai HEP, Bakun HEP, Murum HEP, and Baleh HEP which is coming up.”

Therefore, he said Sarawakians should support the development of hydroelectricity power which is renewable and green energy.

With the usage of such energy, Morshidi said there would be less pollution in Sarawak, which would make the state an attractive tourist destination.

The forum yesterday was attended by 50 people from both the public and private sectors. It will be conducted in three sessions; namely in Kuching, Bintulu and Miri to gain feedback and input from the various technical centres and agencies in Sarawak on preparing future plans for the Industry 4.0 masterplan.

Deputy State Secretary (Administration) Datu Dr Sabariah Putit; Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore Centre for Innovation, Research and Enrterprise (CIRE) director Dr Valdew Singh; SCOPE chief executive officer Dr Asleena Helmi; and Centex chief executive officer Syeed Mohd Hussein were present at the function.