KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has been invited to share Sarawak’s development perspectives during the 47th ASEAN Summit, which will take place from October 26 to 28.
He said he will present views on renewable energy development and the growth of the semiconductor industry.
“The Prime Minister has asked me to share the policies implemented in Sarawak in two key areas of the new economy, clean energy and semiconductors, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), which is increasingly being applied across various economic sectors,” he told reporters after officiating the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2025 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
On whether the attendance of United States President Donald Trump at the summit would present an opportunity for Malaysia to express its expectations or proposals, Abang Johari said he would leave that to the Prime Minister’s discretion.
“The investment climate has been somewhat affected by Trump’s tariff policies. I hope our ASEAN leaders can engage in wise discussions to address the economic challenges arising from these policies,” he added.
Communications Minister, Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, has confirmed that Trump is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia this coming Sunday (October 26) to attend the summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, elaborating further on IDECS, Abang Johari said it provides valuable perspectives on both the opportunities and challenges of AI.
“Firstly, we cannot rely 100 per cent on AI because, as mentioned earlier, AI lacks common sense.
“AI is essentially a result of the data input provided by users. It is a process for producing faster solutions. In Sarawak, we use both human judgment and AI. In the context of semiconductors, AI also depends on the functions of microchips,” he said.
He added that Sarawak is currently focusing on education and capacity-building to design microchips, an initiative that aligns with the state’s push toward advanced technology.
“As I mentioned earlier, we are now educating our people to design chips. I also had a discussion with our representatives in Taiwan on chip production.
“I have encouraged those in Kuching to visit the IDECS exhibition, which showcases the latest technologies from various fields. These innovations will help enhance our development efforts through technology,” he said.
