By Karen Bong
KUCHING, March 31: “Ada tower, tak ada kuali” (telco towers without satellite dishes) is a real problem, especially in some rural and remote areas in Sarawak.
With that, Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg emphasised that continuous efforts to expand Sarawak’s digital infrastructure to attain full network coverage are needed.
“We must provide that. We have to upgrade our digital infrastructure.
“We have formed Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) to collaborate and work together with other telco providers for us to expand access to network coverage especially in blind spots in order to connect our communities,” he said when officiating at the opening ceremony of the Sarawak Utility and Telecommunication Conference 2022 at a hotel here today.
Digital telecommunication, Abang Johari pointed out, is a basic infrastructure and an enabler for Sarawak to transform into an advanced digital economy both in urban and rural areas, apart from the provision of water and electricity supply.
“Basic infrastructure needed includes water and electricity supply without disruption as well as telecommunication to connect every sector of the economy.
“If you want to transform our economy without these basic prerequisites, it will be difficult to lift up our economic status towards a developed economy,” he said.
Noting that there are still places near Kuching in Samarahan as well as Sebuyau without sufficient water supply which in turn leads to disruption to daily lives, Abang Johari added, as a result, the State government had allocated RM4 billion to resolve these problems within three years especially in strategic areas, while efforts will continue to expand other areas.
“There are also villages and longhouses yet to have full access to electricity supply. Some are using diesel (to power generators for electricity), but it is expensive to light up their longhouses and villages at night.
“We have introduced solar power which is also expensive but despite that, the government must spend where it is needed and we have invested RM2 million for the Sares (Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme) programme.
“The funding is not enough, so we have to allocate more as this is also a continuous effort,” he said.
These three components, Abang Johari continued, are vital for future development for all sectors of the economy based on digitalisation and data including, but not limited to agriculture, tourism and manufacturing.
“In other words, digitalisation is the key. It is the engine to transform the economy and thereby increase the income of our people. Only with skills can we manage the new era with higher salary and wages.
“When all these happen, then we can achieve a high income economy for Sarawak and our society. This is the supply chain and basic prerequisites for Sarawak to transform its economy,” he said.
Abang Johari believed that these matters will be the subjects of discussion in the two-day Sarawak Utility and Telecommunication Conference as the Sarawak government will look forward to the solutions as well as new directions and approaches to support the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication and Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability in their focus to ensure basic infrastructure and facilitate innovation for Sarawak’s transformation towards an advanced digital economy.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Minister in the Office of Premier of Sarawak Datuk John Sikie Tayai, Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Deputy Minister of Utility Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Deputy Minister of Telecommunication Datuk Liwan Lagang and Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni were among those present. — DayakDaily
