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Minister: DigitalNEXUS programme signifies Sarawak's digital innovation leadership vision
Ahmad Hata listens as two young DigitalNEXUS 2025 exhibitors explain their project report on flood-safe smart kit monitoring and alert system. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING (July 2): The inaugural Digital Technology Nexus (DigitalNEXUS) highlights Sarawak's vision of becoming a regional leader in digital innovation.
Introduced by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), the two-day programme at the Hilton Hotel here aims to foster knowledge-sharing, collaboration and innovation in digital technology.
It brings together academics, students, industry players and also those representing government agencies to explore the emerging technological trends including artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, the metaverse, Internet of Things (IoT), and 'Big Data' analytics.
Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, in his keynote address for the opening ceremony yesterday, said digital transformation remained a key pillar of the state's economic and social development, in line with the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030.
In this regard, he underscored the government's continued investment in digital infrastructure and AI development, including the rollout of hyperscale data centres, rural connectivity through Sarawak Multimedia Authority Rural Telecommunications (SMART) towers and Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MySRBN), as well as digital skills programmes aimed at narrowing the urban-rural divide.
'Partnerships between academia, industry and government, such as what we see here at DigitalNEXUS, are crucial towards achieving that goal,' said Julaihi in his speech, which was read out by the ministry's deputy permanent secretary Syed Mohamad Fauzi Shabab.
Meanwhile, in his remarks, Unimas vice-chancellor Prof Ahmad Hata Rasit described the programme as 'timely and necessary, given the accelerating pace of digital transformation'.
'We are now at a pivotal moment in history.
'The speed of digital transformation is not just fast; it is accelerating at an exponential pace.
'Universities are not just consumers of technology; we are creators, educators, and incubators of ideas that will drive the next wave of innovation.'
Ahmad Hata also reaffirmed Unimas' commitment of integrating digital literacy across its curriculum, investing in cutting-edge research and cultivating a culture meant to empower students and academics to lead in the digital age.
'DigitalNEXUS is a testament to that commitment,' he added.
'Let us use this event to think boldly, challenge the status quo, and collectively imagine a future where technology serves humanity in the most impactful ways possible.'
The opening day yesterday featured thought leaders such as Google for Education (Malaysia and Brunei) country head Danial Azizan Abdullah Henry; Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) head of digital tech ecosystem Victor Lo, Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS) expert Simon Tiong, CyberSecurity Malaysia chief technology and chief information security officer Wan Roshaimi Wan Abdullah, Patentsworth International founder and chief executive officerIrfan Awang, and also Prof Anna Grosman of Loughborough University London.
The event was organised in collaboration with industry partners, and federal and state agencies and supported by Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), with key partners including the National Digital Department, SMA, SAINS, Google for Education, CelcomDigi, CyberSecurity Malaysia, Patentsworth International, Oceanus Media Global (Singapore), Intelli Technologies (Vietnam), Insight Analytics (Vietnam), Forever Young Society, Emma Industries, Pay & Go, Genesis Circle Sdn Bhd, and Global Telecom.
