By Nigel Edgar
KUCHING, March 29: Centre of Technical Excellence (Centexs) Kuching will be turned into a Digital Academy next year, announced Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The Chief Minister said once it became an academy, its training certificates would be upgraded to graduate training certificates.
“Graduate training also includes master degree specialising in digital training because we are targeting by 2022 our digital economy will be improved, and we would need digital infrastructure of up to 5G,” he told reporters after launching Centexs Technical, Digital and Heritage Integrated Complex in Santubong here today.
Abang Johari said transforming Centexs Kuching into an academy would benefit the trainees because it would have modern equipment and facilities for research and study purposes.
As for other Centexs campuses in the state, like those in Betong, Lundu, Dalat and Lawas, he said they would remain at certificate training level. This means those who want to further their training need to enrol at Centexs Digital Academy Kuching.
“This is so that within five to 10 years from now, Sarawak will have plenty of digital-based skilled people,” said Abang Johari.
Meanwhile, he was also eager to welcome 5G technology to Sarawak, particularly from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, which has been Centexs’ skills training partner since last year.
He said there were endless possibilities with the 5G super high-speed wireless Internet, which could boost the state’s digital economy initiative in many sectors, such as in agriculture.
“We earlier saw how Western countries use 5G in salmon farming. We can also use it for our terubok farming because, with 5G, all the data collected from sensors at the farm will go to the data centre for experts to analyse and advise how to further optimise farming methods,” said Abang Johari. — DayakDaily
