By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 9: Sarawak wants data centres to generate high-paying jobs and drive technological development rather than merely serve as facilities for storing data, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the State was being selective in its approach to data centre development as simply building such facilities would not automatically make Sarawak a technologically advanced economy.
“Building data centres alone will not make Sarawak a technologically advanced economy.
“That’s why Sarawak is very selective on data centre. The real value lies in how we apply these technologies and the solutions we develop,” he said when speaking at the Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Sarawak Annual Dinner 2026 held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) last night (Nov 8).
He cited the Kuching AI Data Centre at Tanjung Embang and the proposed AI Grid as among the initiatives being pursued to strengthen Sarawak’s digital economy.
Abang Johari stressed that the State wanted these developments to create employment opportunities, particularly high-paying jobs, rather than limit their function to data storage.
“At the same time, we want to create jobs, high-paying jobs. Otherwise, data centre is just like a warehouse, they are just storing data without any other function rather than storing it just like a cupboard,” he said. — DayakDaily
