For Immediate Release

Raising Digital Champions for Sarawak Digital Economy

KUCHING, 18 December, 2020 – The Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) congratulates the fine achievement of Macgres Sawet and Nabiatul Dania Zulfiqa Binti Mohd Zulfadhli of SK Temong, Serian for winning the Best Film ‘Batuh Bijanji’ by Popular Jury (Primary School Category) at the Festival Internacional de Cinema Escolar de Alvoradar (FECEA) 2020, Brazil recently.

When the YAB Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg launched the Digital Economy agenda in 2018, among the strategic enablers to drive the economy was digital skills and talent development with an emphasis to enhance the state’s education system and infrastructure through STEM. The outcome was to create ICT champion in schools through ICT-based competition. Another strategic enabler was through arts and culture whereby the value of Sarawak’s heritage and culture are preserved digitally and physically, thereby enhancing tourism in the state.

By leveraging on the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Digital Storytelling Animation (DiStA) initiative, the Sarawak government through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research, Sarawak (MESTR) and SMA, DiStA Camp programme went on to expand the opportunities for more Sarawak students to showcase their digital and content creation creativity skills. At the same time, the programme provides a platform for respective winners to vie for international awards.

The 2019 DiStA Camp saw the participation of 70 schools from Kuching, Mukah and Bintulu, involving 140 students. It was from one of these camps that two note-worthy champions were raised; Macgres Sawet and Nabiatul Dania Zulfiqa Binti Mohd Zulfadhli led by the inspirational guidance of their teachers, Mohd Reduan Patah and Wan Zulfadli Ad-Dinnie Wan Azmi.

‘The Authority would like to pay tribute to all those involved in strengthening the current STEM and ICT education in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in Sarawak’ acknowledged Dr. Zaidi Bin Razak, General Manager of SMA. ‘And it is through this form of grass root development that we can unearth more talents to grow our creative industry in the form of digital creative content and even games ‘, he added.

‘As the lead agency in driving Digital Sarawak, the Authority remains steadfast in facilitating this strategic agenda with our partner, the Sarawak Digital Economic Corporation (SDEC)’, assured Dr. Zaidi.