KUCHING: While Malaysia faces the pressure of a 24 per cent tariff hike, Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (TEGAS) remains committed to shielding local digital startups and strengthening rural development across Sarawak.
Speaking at the TEGAS Riang Ria Aidilfitri Open House at the TEGAS Digital Village, Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Deputy Minister, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, stressed that although TEGAS is not directly involved in trade, it plays a key role in human capital development, which is essential during economically uncertain times.
“We focus on training and exposure, not trading.
“So, in that regard, TEGAS is not directly affected, but what’s important now is how we support those who are impacted,” he sad.
“TEGAS can act as a safety net for digital startups.
“Our programmes are ongoing, and we’re assessing how the tariff situation may influence the ecosystem in the long term.”
Len Talif added that assessments are underway, and any policy decision on the tariff issue would ultimately depend on federal-level leadership.
Meanwhile, TEGAS will continue doing its part to bolster Sarawak’s digital economy by empowering entrepreneurs with the right tools, knowledge and networks.
On rural development, he noted how strategic infrastructure projects like the newly opened Kemena Bridge are already generating significant economic impact.
“We’re seeing a real boost in economic activity.
“Since the bridge was opened just seven months ago, local businesses have sprung up, eateries are full, and people are moving with ease,” he added.
The congestion that used to last up to 10 hours during festive seasons has significantly reduced.
The bridge, together with future projects like the Batang Lassa Bridge in Daro, are part of the state’s broader infrastructure push under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
“This is the kind of development people in rural areas have long waited for.
“And we thank Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg for fully funding the procedures that ensure economic continuity towards achieving developed state status by 2030,” he said.
He noted that over the past 13 years, TEGAS has reached nearly 400,000 individuals through various programmes across Sarawak, including SPF and Pro-DR, all aligned with the state’s Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and Sarawak Political Blueprint 2025-2030.
“We are not just an NGO, we are an agency with a responsibility, supported by the Sarawak government, to implement its development agenda effectively,” he concluded.
