KUCHING: To spur the Internet economy, the state government will table a new law to enhance cyber security at the next state assembly sitting in November.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said this is needed when Sarawak becomes a digital economy, a state of ICT, and as part of a digital world.
“When we move towards the digital economy, cyber problems and cyber security would be an area of concern and online businesses would need to be regulated,” he said at the launch of the Digital Kenyalang Sarawak event today.
In order to create a sustainable environment for the Internet economy, he added that consumers themselves must be able to trust in it.
“So it is important that the legislation be enforced as it will ensure that the interests and well-being of the people are taken care of and all information pertaining to online transactions are not undermined.”
Meanwhile, Abang Johari also announced a RM1 billion investment to build broadband network infrastructure to boost Internet connection speeds up to 2Tbps across the state.
He said plans had been outlined for the next four to five years to build the infrastructure highway that would use both fibre optic and cloud network technologies.
He added that investment in a fast broadband network and services was part of the state’s new economic model to leapfrog the Sarawak economy from conventional trade to the digital economy that was developing rapidly worldwide.
Abang Johari lamented that the present network is not fast enough, akin to a sloth, to cater to the state’s aspiration to transform its economy.
“Infrastructure must be available if we want to transform from a traditional economy to a digital economy. We cannot transform if the infrastructure remains backward and that is why I am willing to commit RM1 billion to build this digital highway.
“In Sarawak, we are far behind. At the moment we are handling goods and services in the traditional way. It is about time we upgrade ourselves to a higher level so that it will be fast and easy to buy and sell products and services,” he said.
He added the process of getting the system standardised and protected will be much easier by identifying key needs and coming out with a set of rules and regulations to effectively govern the state’s e-commerce activities and/or any digital transactions.
He also urged entrepreneurs to come out of their shell, especially the younger generations that can command technology.
At the same time, he wants to modernise Sarawakian farming and cottage businesses especially those in the rural areas through ICT.
