SIBU: The Sarawak government is on the right track to emulate other developed countries in its technological advancements, especially in the aspect of Artificial Intelligence (AI), through its green technology initiatives.
According to Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee, the Sarawak government understands that AI is becoming increasingly important in this century.
He stressed that no country, including Sarawak, can thrive without AI. Hence, the state aims to play an important role in technological advancement, and one of the catalysts for AI is energy.
“AI is a power-hungry technology, and Sarawak has energy. Better still, we have green energy. Sarawak is producing 5,745 megawatts of green energy, and we are targeting to reach 10,000 megawatts by 2030,” he said.
He said this in his speech at the opening ceremony of the Borneo RoboMaster Conference 2024, attended by more than 400 participants and organised by Sarawak Digital Media E-Platform Association and the University of Technology Sarawak here today (June 22).
The Pelawan assemblyman said that the Sarawak government has expedited its efforts to achieve the target of reaching 10,000 megawatts of energy produced by exploring more options, which include floating solar panels, cascading dams, and more.
“Currently, 62 per cent of energy produced by Sarawak is from our hydropower, while in the peninsula they are still depending on coal energy. Another 21 per cent (energy generated) is from gas, 16 per cent from coal energy, and only one per cent from diesel,” he added.
Meanwhile, another catalyst needed for AI advancement, Tiang said, was technology.
“Sarawak does not have that kind of technology (high technologies involving AI) yet. We are still learning. We are still equipping ourselves with that kind of knowledge,” he concurred.
Hence, he stressed that the schools, relevant ministries, and departments need to catch up with technological advancements, while the government must anticipate and all industries need to look at all the technological advancements.
Also present was Sarawak Digital Media E-Platform Association president Zoey Ting.
