KUCHING: A total of 82 exhibition booths were set up for the Old Kuching Smart Heritage Agenda (OKSHe) programme which started yesterday at the Kuching Waterfront.
The Government and Corporate Agencies Exhibition saw the participation of 40 booths while the Smart Heritage Community Expo had 42 local business organisations from “Kampung Heritage” and “Kejiranan Mesra” of Kuching North City Hall (KJM DBKU).
The expos are aimed at encouraging the community to have better understanding of the roles of the agencies as well as giving opportunity to the community to exhibit their heritage products such as “Kek Lapis”, traditional local cuisines, traditional health products and handcrafts.
According to Deputy State Secretary Datuk Dr Sabariah Putit, the programme is in line with the state government’s efforts in empowering smart community.
“The event is a platform to ensure that the local community, especially in Kuching can be involved in digital inclusivity where every programme takes into consideration the needs of the digital economy,” she told the reporters at the soft launch of the expos.
“Today, we can see the participation of the entrepreneurship community at the Dapur Heritage, Food Truck and Flea Market in using Smart Pay.
“Apart from this, we included the digital approach through the use of smartphones or applications in entertainment and family-based programmes such as Kiddies Corner, e-Games, Heritage Games, Old Kuching Heritage Amazing Race, Kuching Got Talent as well as Photo and Video Upload Contest.
“With this programme, we are creating a space and opportunity for the local community to participate in digital economy directly in line with the hope of our Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to make Sarawak a digital hub in this region.”
Sabariah believed that through the OKSHe programme, the local community’s acceptance of the digital economy would not too difficult.
At the same time, Kuching North commissioner Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai said the event is intended to be a community-inclusive platform prior to undertaking the responsibility given by the state government.
“One of the interesting activities held is a tug-of-war but we are going to hold it on water and not on dry ground like the common way. We are also going to hold a ‘Penambang’ competition and ‘Biggest Shrimp-Fishing’ competition,” he said.
Co-organised by DBKU and Smart Multimedia Authority (SMA), the expos are a part of the one-week OKSHe programme from March 25 to 31.
DBKU director Dr Morshidi Ahmad and DBKU commissioner Datuk Wee Hong Seng were also present at the event.
