KUCHING: Sarawak needs leaders who are politically stable and far-sighted to jump start and bring the state forward into Industry Revolution 4.0, said Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
“Sarawak’s development as a digitally enhanced state depends on several factors including the high cost of developing the required infrastructure.
“The state, however, is quite blessed. Sarawak is very rich with resources,” he told a press conference yesterday during his visit to the Sarawak Beyond Paradigm Summit at Pullman Hotel here.
“I believe we can achieve our goal if everybody puts his heart and mind into this push for a digital enhanced state,” he added.
“We are proud that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and the state government are emphasising on this matter by establishing a digital highway.
“We are experiencing this digital advancement in the urban areas but the opportunities to develop it in the rural areas are wide.
“We are not very far away from it (digital enhancement) as only last month, we organised Idecs 2019 and brought in futuristic leader Michio Kaku who praised the government for its interest in this area,” said Karim.
Quoting China as an example, the minister said 10 or 15 years ago, it was not digitally advanced.
“But today, you find there is no need for policemen anymore because all areas are covered with security cameras and sensors.
“The sensors know where you are and that is how advanced China is currently,” he added.
Sarawak Beyond Paradigm Summit 2019, organised by Serba Dinamik Holdings Berhad, takes place at Pullman Hotel here from July 20 to 21.
Karim pointed out that the presence of Sophia the Robot had made the event special.
“We are proud to have Sophia as she is considered as a celebrity and for the last two days, she has met the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq.
“We have seen her on social media and now she is finally here in Kuching,” he added.
