KUCHING: The strategic positioning of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo places both states in an advantageous position to jointly explore the opportunities within the digital economy.

Sarawak has already made significant strides in this area, serving as a blueprint for Sabah’s own digital transformation.

Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) General Manager, Dato Dr. Anderson Tiong Ing Heng, highlighted Sarawak’s progressive journey toward establishing a robust digital economy under the leadership of Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr.) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg.

“We are fortunate to have a visionary leader who has driven Sarawak’s digital agenda forward. His leadership, as the Chairman of SMA, has been instrumental in shaping Sarawak’s digital economy,” said Dato Dr. Anderson during a courtesy visit from Sabah’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation delegation on Friday.

Led by Permanent Secretary Datuk Mohd Hanafiah Mohd Kassim, the Sabah delegation visited SMA’s headquarters to gain insights into Sarawak’s digital economic development and its implementation strategies.

Datuk Mohd Hanafiah acknowledged Sarawak’s position as a leader in digital economic transformation, emphasizing the purpose of the visit as a learning opportunity for Sabah.

“We are here to learn from SMA on how Sarawak has successfully fast-tracked its digital economy and how the agency has reshaped the digital landscape to prepare its people for the future,” he remarked.

He added that the visit marked the beginning of Sabah’s journey in understanding Sarawak’s digital ecosystem, which focuses on people-centric solutions.

“Sarawak’s approach ensures that all segments of society can benefit from digitalisation, and this is something we hope to replicate for the benefit of Sabah’s citizens,” he said.

The visit also served as an opportunity for both states to discuss collaborative efforts in advancing their respective digital economies.

The Sabah delegation expressed admiration for Sarawak’s inclusive approach, which ensures a diverse range of strategies to maximise the digital economy’s potential.

Also in attendance were Deputy Permanent Secretary II of Sabah’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Syahrin Samsir, SMA Deputy General Manager, Ts. Dr. Suhaila Jaffar, and SMA Digital Technology Division Head, Hemlet Kiai. -UKASnews