KUCHING: Youth across Sarawak have been called upon to step beyond training rooms and take on a more active role as drivers of digital transformation within their own districts.
The call was made by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak chief executive officer Ali Suhaili during the opening of Sarawak Digital Champion 2026 Bootcamp.
Organised by the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) with AZAM Sarawak serving as the implementing agency on the ground, the four-day bootcamp gathered representatives from 45 districts statewide.
According to a press statement, Ali stressed that the true strength of the programme lies not in its duration, but in the participants’ commitment to return to their communities as catalysts of sustained change.
“We want youths not only to be digitally literate, but to emerge as leaders who can guide and instil confidence in their communities to move in tandem with the digital wave,” he said.
He added that digital transformation requires more than technical skills, noting that understanding local context, effective communication and the ability to build trust within communities are equally critical.
As an organisation rooted in participatory communication, AZAM plays a bridging role between the state’s development aspirations and grassroots realities.
“Effective communication builds understanding, trust and participation. When communities understand the benefits, they will take part actively,” he said.
The programme will continue with a structured six-month development module comprising mentoring sessions, monitoring and the implementation of digital initiatives at district level.
Beginning April, participants are expected to return to their respective areas to roll out their first community-based digital programmes.
Ali also urged communities statewide to welcome the Sarawak Digital Champion agents, who will be deployed to conduct mentoring and digital empowerment initiatives at the local level.
“Transformation requires collective support. When these agents return to their districts, we hope communities will engage openly and view this as an effort to strengthen local capacity,” he added.
In advancing youth development, AZAM, through its AZAM Young Souls (AYS) platform, continues to emphasise holistic formation encompassing skills, leadership and discipline, with youths seen as key catalysts for structured and sustainable change.
The collaboration between SDEC and AZAM Sarawak reflects a coordinated approach towards building a more organised and resilient digital ecosystem for the state.
Ali was confident the initiative would produce local digital leaders who are not only technologically competent, but also committed to ensuring their communities progress together in the digital era.
