KOTA SAMARAHAN: The federal government is hoping that the Sarawak Government will consider the establishment of state-level legislation to enable digital data exchange.
Minister of Digital, Gobind Singh Deo, said the federal government passed the Data Sharing Act 2024, which came into force April this year.
“I had a discussion with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, and I have told the Premier that one of the great aspects we see is how we can encourage each state to have laws that allow the sharing of data across the country,” he said.
He therefore urged the state government to consider adopting the framework to enable digital data exchange nationwide.
“The framework of legislation at the central level includes all this, and we want the state governments and local governments to see how we can implement the same legislation,” he said.
He stated this during a working visit to the Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS) headquarters here on Friday.
Gobind also assures that data governance, safety and clarity of use must be prioritised in the formation of any legislation.
He stressed there would be a team from the Ministry of Digital that will be sent to Sarawak to assist and provide further guidance on how the framework of data-sharing law can be adopted and implemented at Sarawak government agencies and services.
“I hope that in the future, I will direct the team from the Ministry of Digital to Sarawak, and to show them how we have passed the law in the central government and how it can be implemented in the state,” he said.
Gobind is currently on a nationwide tour to visit Command Centre’s across Malaysia.
His visit to Sarawak is part of a nationwide tour to review the progress of the state-level digital transformation efforts and explore opportunities for collaboration between the federal and state governments.
The tour also focuses on creating uniform laws and framework for digital data-sharing and also digital transformation nationwide.
He also praised Sarawak for being ahead in digitalising government services which showed that Sarawak has clear direction in embracing new technological changes for better services.
“I saw that SAINS has been ahead in terms of digitalising government services,” Gobind said.
He stated that Sarawak’s progress is a proof that digital governance can be effectively implemented at the state level.
Meanwhile, Gobind’s nationwide tour will continue next week to other Command Centre in other states, where he will meet other states’ chief ministers to support the nation’s digitalisation implementation.
“On Monday, I will be visiting Command Centre in Bukit Jalil, thereafter I will also be visiting other states.
“I hope that after my visits, all the central and local governments can work together so that we can speed up the process of digitalisation in the country in the near future,” he said.
