By Nur Shazreena Ali
“HI ADAM! Can you prepare a timeline of Sarawak’s digital transformation journey?”
Within seconds, a detailed timeline appeared on my screen, complete with key milestones, major initiatives and references to official Government documents.
“Thanks, ADAM,” I replied.
‘Wow… what an efficient colleague,’ I thought to myself.
At first glance, one might assume that ‘ADAM’ was one of my colleagues. Perhaps it was the way we communicated: I posed a question, ‘ADAM’ responded, and together we worked together through the task. In many ways, that impression was not entirely wrong. The conversation was real, and so was the work being done.
But here is the twist.
Can anyone of us, I mean, realistically, be able to search through hundreds of Government documents, circulars and policy papers, verify the information and produce a coherent, structured response in just few seconds?
Of course not.
Not just another chatbot
If ADAM had a physical desk, it would probably be overflowing by now. At least, for me, it certainly would be, as I would have kept him busy.
“Summarise this report.”
“Find the latest circular on data governance.”
“Check whether this draft speech is aligned with Sarawak Government policies and guidelines.”
One request followed another.
Meet ADAM, Sarawak Government’s first on-premises AI assistant
Developed under the leadership of the Sarawak Civil Service Digitalisation Unit (SCSDU), ADAM AI is one of Sarawak government’s latest digital initiatives.
Dressed impeccably in a neat grey suit and tie, ADAM’s avatar reflects the professionalism, credibility and service-oriented values of the Sarawak Civil Service. At the same time, it appears approachable enough to feel like a colleague while remaining appropriately formal for the public-service environment.
I “met” ADAM on July 7, 2026, when he made his official debut, but he has already become part of my daily workflow.
Each day, I turn to him for speech preparation, document searches, policy references, fact-checking and countless other tasks.
Built on the principle of data sovereignty, ADAM is hosted entirely within the Sarawak government’s own infrastructure and is designed exclusively for use by Sarawak civil servants.
Like most AI assistants, ADAM responds almost instantly. His responses are structured, concise and written in a tone familiar to anyone working in the public service.
But speed alone is not what impressed me most. What sets ADAM apart is not simply its ability to retrieve information quickly, but its ability to retrieve information from authorised Government documents, connect relevant information across multiple sources and, equally importantly, acknowledge when the information requested is unavailable.
Rather than attempting to fill the gaps with assumptions, ADAM clearly states the limitations of its authorised knowledge base.
Its knowledge-based agents are supported by an expanding repository of approved government documents, policies, circulars, guidelines and other reference materials.
Unlike open data AI tools, ADAM’s knowledge-based agents generate responses grounded in authorised government sources. The platform also uses Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to retrieve relevant information before generating a response but doesn’t generate raw information from the open internet.
Testing ADAM
To see how far ADAM could go, I gave it a genuine challenge drawn from my own work of preparing speeches for Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, the Sarawak State Secretary.
Using its official government source agent, I described a recurring problem in the speech preparation process.
Agencies often submit requests with incomplete background information, requiring officers to obtain additional facts, clarify programme details and locate supporting references before drafting can begin.
I asked whether there was an existing standard operating procedure governing speech requests submitted by Government agencies.
ADAM could not locate such a procedure in its authorised repository. However, the inquiry did not end there. It identified related references on Good Regulatory Practice (GRP), Regulatory Impact Analysis and Business Process Reengineering. It then outlined a possible pathway for developing a standardised Speech Request Template.
It explained the role of the GRP Taskforce, the principles of Regulatory Impact Analysis and the evidence needed to justify a new administrative intervention.
Intrigued, I asked what would constitute a strong case for introducing such a template across government agencies.
ADAM organised the issue into several areas: evidence of inefficiency, operational and reputational risks, alternative approaches and the projected benefits of intervention.
It also highlighted familiar problems, including fragmented submission channels, incomplete briefing information, repeated requests for clarification, longer turnaround times and the diversion of officers from higher-value work.
ADAM then produced a draft problem statement and proposed a practical solution, requiring the Speech Request Template that allows agencies to provide essential information before a request enters the drafting workflow.
As someone relatively new to the Sarawak Civil Service, I found the proposal particularly valuable.
My role as press secretary to the Sarawak State Secretary requires far more than the ability to write well. It demands an understanding of government priorities, accurate interpretation of policies and careful verification of every fact, statistic and reference used in an official text.
Preparing a speech often means reviewing hundreds of pages of policy papers, circulars, previous speeches, guidelines and briefing documents before a single paragraph can be drafted.
With ADAM, that process becomes more manageable. It helped me locate relevant materials, connect existing frameworks and organise scattered information into a structured starting point for further analysis.
ADAM AI and the 3Rs: Revisit, Rethink and Recharge
The more I worked with ADAM, the more I realised that his value lies not only in the answers he provides, but also in the gaps in knowledge that he exposes.
I experienced this when I asked about the history of Wisma Bapa Malaysia. Of the three agents I tested, only General Chat attempted to provide an answer. However, the response was unclear and came with a caution that the information was not based on verified Sarawak government sources.
Meanwhile, the other two agent; Official Government Source agent and the e-Circular, could retrieve the historical account I was looking for.
The history of Wisma Bapa Malaysia has long been documented in archival records, news reports and a National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) documentary. Yet much of this valuable knowledge has not been incorporated into searchable government repositories.
The experience brought to mind the Sarawak Civil Service’s 3R framework: Revisit, Rethink and Recharge.
Of course, incorporating the history of Wisma Bapa Malaysia into ADAM is not as simple as uploading a few documents.
Valuable information may already exist across speeches, policy papers, websites, publications, social media posts, archival materials and Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS) news reports.
But before ADAM can retrieve and present it accurately, the information must first be verified, organised, properly classified and kept up to date.
In the age of AI, these materials are more than records of government activities. They form part of our knowledge that could shape the answers that AI provides in the future. If that knowledge remains scattered, outdated or difficult to access, AI may not be able to retrieve, connect and interpret it effectively.
ADAM can only be as reliable as the knowledge available to it. Better answers therefore begin with better stewardship of the information we create, manage and preserve.
We must revisit the knowledge we already possess, rethink how Government information is organised and shared, and recharge our commitment to preserving institutional memory for the AI era.
Digital government: AI governance, leadership and readiness
My experience with ADAM made me better understand that AI is only one part of the equation. Behind every useful answer lies something less visible but equally important: well-governed data.
This is precisely why the launch of the Sarawak Data Governance Framework, or SDGF, could not have come at a better time.
More than a technical framework, it provides the foundation for ensuring that government information remains accurate, trusted, secure, current and accessible.
However, to become a data-driven government by 2030, Sarawak needs capable digital officers, reliable infrastructure, strong connectivity and committed leadership.
During the launch of the SDGF at Program D.A.T.A (Digital Automation Through Technological Advancement), Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki reminded heads of departments, ministries, agencies and units that building data-driven government begins with leadership.
According to him, leaders must set example as they are not only users of government systems, but also enablers in championing sound data governance.
The Sarawak government has already laid much of the groundwork through various initiatives. From SCS Mobile++, e-Performance and the Sarawak Data Management Portal (SDMP) to the rolling out of AI digital literacy competency programmes, the foundations for a data-driven government are already taking shape.
But the challenge now is whether we are prepared to use AI responsibly and effectively, in the best interests of the people of Sarawak.
We now only have four years left to realise Sarawak’s aspiration of becoming a data-driven Government by 2030. AI in Sarawak Civil Service is already here. ADAM is ready.
What about us? Are we ready?
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Nur Shazreena Ali is currently a press secretary to the Sarawak State Secretary.
This is the personal opinion of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the views of DayakDaily. Letters to the Editor may be lightly edited for clarity.
— DayakDaily
