KUCHING: Sarawak is rapidly positioning itself as a hub for artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, with the state government spearheading initiatives to integrate AI into key sectors.
Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak, Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi, said the event’s theme, ‘Empowering the Digital Economy through AI Innovation’, reflects Sarawak’s commitment to cultivating a comprehensive AI ecosystem that supports economic growth, social equity, and digital inclusion.
“In recent years, we have seen a remarkable surge in AI-related activities in Sarawak, driven by growing recognition from both local and international stakeholders,” he said at the MD Tech CxO Forum Kuching at Hilton Hotel last Tuesday.
He highlighted the role of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) in pioneering AI research, noting that UNIMAS’ AI research group has since grown into a leading centre for machine learning, semantic technologies, and agent-based modelling, including projects on natural language processing for indigenous languages.
Julaihi said AI integration is being applied in renewable energy management, particularly for real-time balancing of supply and demand in the state’s hydroelectric plants in Bakun, Murum and Baleh.
Beyond energy, Sarawak’s AI initiatives span agriculture, healthcare, tourism and infrastructure, with the Sarawak AI Centre’s flagship projects including AI for smart agriculture, predictive analytics for early disease detection, and AI-driven smart grids.
In April, the state launched KETEQ AI in Cardiff with applications in electric vehicles, autonomous systems, industrial Internet of Things, and predictive maintenance, while in January, it became the first in the world to roll out AI.LEGACY, an intelligent impact management system for tracking the legacies of business events.
Julaihi added that smart farming technologies introduced through government and international collaborations will help Sarawak reach its goal of becoming a net food exporter by 2030.
“Sarawak is not just a beneficiary of AI – we are committed to contributing to the global AI movement,” he said, noting that the state’s achievements have been recognised nationally and internationally.
He urged participants from government, academia, and the private sector to leverage forums like the MD Tech CxO Forum to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and apply AI innovations in their respective fields.
“Collaboration is not merely about alignment – it is about co-creation, shared ownership, and delivering real impact across communities and industries,” he stressed.
The forum brought together industry experts, policymakers, and innovators to explore strategies for harnessing AI to drive Sarawak’s digital economy.
