In order to prepare youth for the digital world, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has decided to set up more Centres of Technical Excellence Sarawak (Centex) in the state.
The first Centex in Santubong, Kuching was launched in October 2014, followed by the construction of the second one in Lundu in 2015 which will be operating soon.
Betong also has a Centex which was launched last year.
Last year, Abang Johari announced two more Centex will also be set up in Dalat and Lawas.
During the State 2020 Budget, Abang Johari said to continue developing highly trained technical and professional workforce to meet the demand including the need of Industry 4.0, the Sarawak government had allocated a sum of RM220 million to provide for the continuation of the setting up of Centex in Dalat, Lawas and Lundu.
Through the technical training they provide, Centex will be able to produce more digital-based skilled workers and experts for the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0) and ensure that Sarawak can achieve its digital economy dreams.
For that reason, Centex in 2017 partnered with Chinese telecommunications and digital technology giant Huawei (Huawei Malaysia) for the training and development of youths to support the state’s digital infrastructure.
Through this collaboration, Centex is the first South East Asia Regional Certified Specialist Training Partner.
In April last year, Centex and Huawei again signed another memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the development of digital talents and technology innovation.
Through this partnership, Huawei will further support the state’s digital economy journey, especially in developing smart cities, smart rural connectivity, smart campuses, smart agriculture, smart buildings, smart education, smart tourism and safe cities.
On top of that, Abang Johari said Centex Kuching would be then upgraded into a Digital Academy beginning this year.
“When it is recognised as an academy, the training certificates will be upgraded to graduate training that includes Master degree which focuses on digital training,” he said.
