KOTA SAMARAHAN: Sarawak’s youth are encouraged to harness technology and entrepreneurship to create new businesses and contribute to the State’s economic growth, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the Sarawak Government is committed to nurturing a new generation of technology-driven entrepreneurs, including through financial support and platforms that allow young people to develop their business ideas.
“The government has allocated RM28 million in grants and loans to start small businesses that use technology,” he said this in his speech when officiating at the Sarawak Youth Week 2026 celebration here today.
He said the funding was intended to help nurture new entrepreneurs involved in various small-scale economic activities, which could subsequently be expanded over time.
He added that Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (TEGAS) also served as a platform for young Sarawakians to explore and develop their entrepreneurial potential.
“The effort will continue to grow new entrepreneurs who use new technologies to strengthen our economy, both in rural and urban areas,” he said.
Abang Johari also urged young Sarawakians to look beyond conventional career paths and draw inspiration from successful technology entrepreneurs around the world.
Citing Alibaba founder, Jack Ma, as an example, he said his journey from being a teacher to building a globally recognised company demonstrated how knowledge, technology and determination could be transformed into economic opportunities.
“If he can do it, Sarawak can do it too,” he said.
Abang Johari said young Sarawakians should make use of knowledge and technologies gained from other countries and apply them to develop new economic activities with clear future potential.
He also reminded youths to use technology responsibly, particularly with the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI).
“Use technology properly. Do not bully people. Today, there are problems involving bullying through technology, as well as scams,” he said.
He described AI as a powerful tool that could either contribute to development or be misused, depending on how it is applied.
According to him, AI essentially consolidates data to accelerate the process of finding solutions, but the same technology could also be exploited for fraudulent activities.
“This is where the quality of young people in this new era comes in,” he said.
Abang Johari said Sarawak wanted to move to a higher level of development by cultivating young people with ideas and capabilities to use technology for the benefit of society as a whole.
He pointed to the achievements of students from Batu Bungan in Baram, as an example of Sarawakian youths’ potential in mastering emerging technologies.
He said the students, many of whom were from the Penan community, had demonstrated their capabilities in AI and technology management through an AI-based remote-control project before competing in Hong Kong.
“They became champions in Hong Kong. This means our children, if we train them and they understand the concept as a whole, can compete with the best in the world,” he said.
Abang Johari said the achievement showed that Sarawak’s young people had the ability to excel globally when provided with the right opportunities, training and support.
He also stressed that technology should ultimately be used to build society and strengthen Sarawak’s economic future.
