By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Sept 7: Federal Deputy Minister of Digital, Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, has reaffirmed the Federal government’s commitment to closing the digital gap in rural areas.
Ugak emphasised that the Ministry of Digital is collaborating with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) to bring digital awareness and skills to rural areas, with the goal of providing local communities with not only knowledge but also tangible benefits through digital programmes.
“I’ve seen firsthand how even the elderly are eager to learn about the digital world and why it’s important for the future.
“The ‘Jelajah Saya Digital’ (JSD) programme will help rural residents across states, including Sarawak, to gain the benefits of digital technology,” he told reporters when met after the launch of the JSD programme at a local shopping mall here today.
MDEC, in partnership with the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) and with the support of the Sarawak government, is hosting a two-day programme in Kuching from Sept 7 to Sept 8, focused on equipping local entrepreneurs with essential digital skills.
With this latest event in Kuching, MDEC marks the 17th location visited this year, spreading its message of digital literacy and empowerment through programmes like ‘eUsahawan’ and ‘MyDigitalMaker’.
With a focus on three key principles—‘Jana Pendapatan’ (Income Generation), ‘Jimat Berbelanja’ (Cost Saving), and ‘Jaga-Jaga Penipuan’ (Fraud Awareness)—the initiative provides valuable training and resources to help participants navigate the digital economy.
“We will continue our efforts to work with local agencies like SDEC to bring digital access and understanding to rural villages, empowering even small traders to improve their monthly income using digital tools,” Ugak added.
Meanwhile, MDEC chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh elaborated on the initiative, noting that the digital roadshows have already reached 17 locations this year.
He also shared success stories from Bintulu and Miri, where local entrepreneurs were able to expand their businesses—such as beauty spas and fragrance retail—by embracing digital tools under MDEC’s e-entrepreneurship programme.
In addition to boosting entrepreneurship, the initiative targets digital literacy across all age groups, from the elderly to school students.
“We’re even engaging with young people through gaming platforms like ‘Mobile Legends’, helping them develop skills that could lead to careers in the digital economy,” Syed Ibrahim remarked.
He further noted that with 1.1 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Malaysia, the majority of which lack digital tools such as bank accounts, the push towards a more digitally literate society is seen as a critical step forward.
The event was attended by various dignitaries and officials, including Sarawak Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication (MUT) Datuk Liwan Lagang, who represented MUT Minister Datuk Sri Julaihi Narawi, and SDEC chief executive officer (CEO) Sudarnoto Osman. — DayakDaily
