By Doreen Ling
KUCHING, Dec 2: As major global powers compete for dominance in the semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors, Sarawak must ensure its relevance by advancing its capabilities in chip design and strengthening its digital technologies.
According to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, there will be a clash to see who can design new chips to keep up with the rapidly developing digital world.
“Those who can command and manufacture new chips will command the digital economy,” he said at the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation’s (SDEC) Fifth Anniversary Celebration here on Monday night (Dec 1).
However, he said AI processes massive amounts of data that generate heat, and silicon cannot tolerate such heat when handling millions of data points simultaneously.
Silicones are used in making semiconductors mainly as an insulator and is turned into very thin layers that coat and protect the microchips.
“That is why, from our side, we carried our research to produce a type of wafer that can tolerate millions of data called ‘gallium nitride’,” he said, adding that it can also tolerate the heat generated by data operations.
Meanwhile, the Premier added that satellite technology is becoming increasingly important because of its ability to collect and transmit vast amounts of data.
In this regard, he noted that Sarawak’s location in the tropics gives it a strategic advantage for satellite development and launch activities.
“Basically, there are two worlds—virtual and reality. We have to combine the two and move forward, and hopefully, Sarawak will become a major player in the new economy,” he said.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications Sarawak Datuk Liwan Lagang; Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Sarawak Datuk Dr Annuar Rapa’ee; Sarawak Financial Secretary Dato Sri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar; Sarawak Attorney-General Dato Sri Saferi Ali; Sarawak Deputy Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel; SDEC chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani; and SDEC chief executive officer Dato Ir Ts Sudarnoto Osman. — DayakDaily
