KUCHING: Equipped with the right training and expertise, the Sarawakian worker stands on par with international professionals, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Expressing this confidence, he called for ‘smart workers’ whose productivity matches their expertise, pointing out that Sarawakians should never be underestimated.
Sharing an inspiring example, the Premier highlighted the proud achievement of a native Sarawakian who is now leading the development of semiconductor chips based on artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the United Kingdom.
“I want to share a story, and I dare to say this because one of our scientists from Sarawak is working in a lab in Cardiff, which is owned by the British Government.
“This Sarawakian scientist is designing high-tech chips capable of resolving energy issues, such as in the event of an electrical issue, this compact AI-driven chip can resolve the problem in just one-tenth of a second.
“I have personally visited the lab. He not only created an AI-powered chip but the chip can also be used to generate energy,” he said when officiating at the 2025 Workers Day celebration at Hikmah Exchange Event Centre (HEEC) here today.
Abang Johari said that he had informed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim about the development, and expressed the intention to launch it once the international intellectual property rights are secured.
“I asked the Prime Minister to review and launch it because this chip was designed by our own chip designer,” he added.
He said this accomplishment aligns with Sarawak’s goal of becoming a high-income state based on technology, similar to what Nordic countries have achieved.
“We do not want a high-cost, low-productivity economy. If technology is used efficiently and savings are made, high salaries will not be a problem, as long as productivity is also high,” he said.
