KUCHING: Sarawak’s upcoming AI Blueprint will be structured around five pillars covering government transformation, digital infrastructure, governance, economic development and long-term capability building.
More than 250 participants from the Sarawak government, government-linked companies, industry, academia and research institutions attended the Sarawak AI Blueprint Kick-Off Journey workshop, held at Sheraton Hotel here today, which marked the official start of the Blueprint’s development.
The Blueprint will chart Sarawak’s direction on AI adoption and its role in the state’s economy, anchored to the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) and Sarawak’s priorities under the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan.
The five pillars are Government Transformation, focused on strengthening policy, administration and public service delivery; Technology, Data and Cybersecurity, providing the trusted digital foundations needed for AI adoption; Policy and Governance, ensuring responsible, secure and transparent use of AI; Economic Sectors and Business Development, driving AI adoption across industries and government-linked companies; and Foundation, encompassing infrastructure, talent, research and culture to sustain the state’s long-term AI ambitions.
In his welcoming remarks, Sarawak Artificial Intelligence Centre (SAIC) chief executive officer Professor Dr Patrick Then said the Blueprint could not be developed by a single organisation.
“A Blueprint of this importance cannot be developed by one organisation alone. It must be shaped by the people who understand the realities, opportunities and challenges across different sectors,” he said.
Then added that the initiative marked a step towards strengthening Sarawak’s AI sovereignty, ensuring the state’s AI future is built on its own strengths, priorities and partnerships.
The workshop was jointly organised by SAIC and the Sarawak Civil Service Digitalisation Unit (SCSDU), with support from the Sarawak Business Federation (SBF) and PwC Malaysia.
Beyond the sharing of the Blueprint draft, the day’s programme featured sectoral breakout sessions, where participants from different sectors contributed ideas to help shape the document, alongside a sharing session by PwC Malaysia on the fundamentals of AI. The Sarawak AI Readiness Index (SARI) Framework session was also conducted, comprising a methodology sharing session and a readiness survey.
Organisers said the insights, feedback and readiness assessments gathered from the workshop would contribute towards an AI action plan that is practical, implementable and focused on measurable outcomes for Sarawak.
