BETONG, Dec 9: Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu is taking the “bull by the horns” by embracing the digital economy in order to uplift the economic status of the people in Layar, Betong.
He said during the current Covid-19 pandemic, the digital economy has played a pivotal role in the lives of everyone.
“During this pandemic, online learning is inevitable and at the same time very challenging to both students and teachers.
“That’s why I am opening up my service centre for university students who have difficulties in accessing the Internet, so that they may attend their courses.
“I provide free Internet facilities and some computers for them,” Rentap told Sarawak Multimedia Authority’s (SMA) Nuju Digital at his service centre here recently.
He added that with modern and borderless economy, the people especially the younger generation has taken the lead in everything digital and Internet of Things (IoT).
“In terms of digital economy, we need an online platform to sell whatever it is of your products to the market.
“For example, a young farmer, who plants golden melons initially has to send his products to Kuching.
“Then, he found out that the transportation cost is very high. So, he decided to do it on Facebook. Once his melons are about to ripen, he posts it on his Facebook page and the people start to order and they come to his farm and collect the fruits themselves and pay him in cash.
“So, this is the new way of doing things. People come to you instead of you going and selling them in the market,” Rentap pointed out.
Rentap reiterated that Internet and electronic gadgets are no longer considered luxury items but instead as necessities in life.
“Laptops, computers and tablets are necessities. For example, my three children, one is doing their foundation studies in university, the second in Form One and the youngest in Primary Six; they all need proper laptops to do their online learning and we have to let them have them,” he said, adding that these facilities which are available in urban areas must also be available in rural areas such as Betong.
As such, he pointed out that for Sarawak to move forward, all the necessary digital infrastructure combined with all the necessary services must be made available in all towns and populated areas in Sarawak. — DayakDaily
