KUCHING: US president Donald Trump doesn’t like China’s telecommunication giant, Huawei. He considers the company a security risk for his country.
On whether this has any bearing on Sarawak in particular, Chief Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg said, “Whatever Trump said, we don’t have Trump in Kuching, we have Johari in Kuching.”
He insisted that Sarawak can develop its talents in artificial intelligence, which is why the state is collaborating with experts on technological advancement such as Huawei.
But Trump might do something. He has been bashing Huawei.
To that, Abang Johari recalled the words of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had asked me if I fear US President Donald Trump for collaborating with Huawei. I told him, ‘Sir, I like your statement. You said Malaysia has no secret. Sarawak too has no secret to hide,’” he said.
He then said the state’s collaboration with Huawei would continue despite the communication giant’s issues with the USA and Europe.
He stressed that if a technology is relevant, such as artificial intelligence, the state would continue to adopt with it.
Sarawak, therefore, will continue to focus on the development of artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and nanotechnology to ensure its future progress and success.
Abang Johari said this is because in the next 10 to 15 years any emerging economy will be driven by these three factors.
“We have to adopt the latest technology because the future of Sarawak depends on it,” he said during the launch of ‘Sarawak Beyond Paradigm Summit 2019’ at Pullman Hotel, yesterday.
He said if Sarawak does not keep up with digital technology, it would be left behind. That is why the state is already transforming its conventional economy into digital economy in line with ‘Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy 2018 to 2022’.
“Sarawak has no other option. We are small. Though our state is as big as Malaya, we have only 2.8 million people. So we have to add value to our resources in order to advance,” he said.
Pointing out that Sarawak is rich in natural recourses, biodiversity, and human talents, Abang Johari said now was the right time to add value on these ‘wealth’ through the use of advanced technology after training the right people to utilise it.
He then said for the application of information technology to advance, the infrastructure must be put in place first because speed is required to transmit data.
“That is why the state government has allocated RM1 billion to upgrade digital infrastructure for two years including developing 5G technology.
“The state government is to give emphasis to this because it will impact the income of our people including those in the rural areas,” he said.
“That is why the agricultural sector should not be left technologically backward. It needs the application of Internet of Things (IoT).
“Just like in Holland and Singapore, they grow vegetables and fruits in buildings. This is one way we want to transform our farmers.
“Once you (farmers) pass through that, to be able to produce organic products and export it to countries like Singapore, I tell you the world is yours.”
