SMA EMERGES AS FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THE 10+3 DIGITAL ECONOMY INNOVATION AWARDS AT YUNNAN PROVINCE, CHINA
KUCHING, December 8, 2021 - Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) emerged as the first place winner in the 10+3 (ASEAN + China, Japan and Republic of South Korea) Digital Economy Innovation Awards Competition with its Sarawak Smart City Operating System entry.
The award was presented during the 10+3 Digital Economy Innovation Forum 2021 today. The competition was organised by the China Academy of Information and Communication Technology together with the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Yunnan Province involving 26 finalists from ASEAN countries, China, Japan and South Korea. Among the well-known names that participated in the final are MY E.G Services Berhad and Tencent Cloud Computing (Beijing) Co Ltd.
According to Ts Tan Chee Kang, the entry consisted of SMA’s past, present and future initiatives especially the ones related to the Kuching Smart City Masterplan (2021 - 2025).
“The Sarawak Smart City Operating System is Sarawak’s model of implementing service-oriented people centric smart city. It is a very comprehensive system which comprises of hardware component, shared services, end user services and governance.
“The Kuching Smart City Masterplan (2021-2025) was developed with the operating system concept at the core to synchronise, connect and harmonise smart city ecosystems in each city and throughout Sarawak. The plan maps out initial projects based on public feedbacks to develop component systems of the core operating systems that will include private sectors, communities and other government agencies to enhance the ecosystem in 2022 and beyond.
“In a nutshell, it is a strategy to promote synergy, collaboration and ownership of services towards betterment of society and economy for Sarawak,” he said.
Tan who is SMA’s Head of Digital Economy Policy, Planning and Monitoring Division (DE Division) and team leader stated that participation in such competition is an opportune platform to promote Sarawak to the outside world particularly to countries that are championing in digitalisation.
“We want to showcase how Sarawak is indeed ready for digitalisation. Thus, platforms like this allow us to promote the state in order to attract investments and digital partners for even greater digital innovations,” he said.
He also expressed hope for such participation to enhance Sarawak’s branding in the global stage.
Meanwhile, General Manager Ts Dr Zaidi bin Razak stated that the award provides a great assurance on the various efforts undertaken by Sarawak in empowering digitalisation and digital economy.
He said the achievement will allow SMA to better gel all stakeholders in moving forward to achieve Sarawak’s aspiration to become a high income and developed state as enshrined in its digital economy agenda.
“The masterplan’s initiatives are aligned with the Sarawak government’s Post Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 initiatives and the state’s 12th Malaysia Plan objectives. It details out on how to make cities in Sarawak more liveable and prosperous with Kuching being a model.
“While benchmarking and looking at what has been done by other countries is good, we need to be bold in taking new steps forward. With the achievement of this award, it is indeed a good assurance.
“It reflects how the steps we have taken so far is on the right path and the journey that we are on holds a bright future. Moreover, it also helps in addressing any scepticisms that may be present among stakeholders as well as the people ,” he explained.
Commenting further, Zaidi added that it is important for all stakeholders to understand as well as share a common passion and commitment in actively taking part in the state’s digitalisation and digital economy journey.
“Sarawak is among the first in Malaysia to go forward with initiatives revolving around digitalisation and digital economy. Despite this, we want Sarawak to have a presence on the global platform as well,” he said.
At the same time, he expressed gratitude and appreciation to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Rahman Zohari Tun Abang Haji Openg who provided the direction for smart city and digital economy initiatives.
“These initiatives are synergised by the diverse knowledge and guidance from the members of SMA especially Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Morshidi bin Abdul Ghani who is also our Kuching Smart City Masterplan advisor as well as Professor Jugdutt (Jack) Singh who is also the Chief Scientist and Chief Advisor for the Sarawak government.
“I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all Sarawak government’s state agencies who helped in developing and implementing ideas on smart city. Moreover, we cannot forget to thank our smart partner, Huawei Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd and other service providers for their collaboration especially in developing the Kuching Smart City Masterplan,” he concluded.
Ts Dr Zaidi bin Razak delivers his speech during the virtual event.
Ts Tan Chee Kang presents on Sarawak Smart City Operating System during the forum.
The 10+3 Digital Economy Innovation Forum 2021 was held virtually on Wednesday (December 8).