Zaidi (right) presenting a souvenir to Sulaiman (left)

KUCHING, 29 July 2022 - Melaka and Sarawak will collaborate through the Smart Melaka Blueprint and Kuching Smart City Masterplan to promote the 'smart twin-city' initiative based on historical, cultural heritage and tourism. 

According to Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) in a statement today, PlanMalaysia Southern Zone Project Office project manager Sulaiman Mohammad said the Smart Melaka Blueprint will be launched soon by the Melaka government to complement Melaka as a developed state.

"The Smart Melaka Blueprint which will be launched by our State Government in August, will be a challenge for us.

"As such, we are coming here to learn from Sarawak, through SMA on how to streamline our efforts in the smart city initiative, and to me, there is a huge potential for both Melaka and Sarawak to collaborate on," said Sulaiman after a briefing session by SMA with his delegation held at SMA Creative Heritage Innovation Centre (CHIC) here today. 

Sulaiman disclosed that his delegation also had the opportunity to visit Kuching Waterfront and the various historical buildings in the city; briefings from Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) on turtle conservation and from Sarawak Forestry Department together with the Minerals and Geoscience Department, Sarawak on the Sarawak Delta Geopark, and also visiting Sarawak Cultural Village. 

He said they have seen how Sarawak has been using its natural and man-made assets to promote its tourism.

Sulaiman pointed out that in Melaka, they also have a turtle sanctuary in Padang Kemunting Beach, Alor Gajah and this is one area where Melaka also wants to learn from SFC.

"We are also keen to learn from Sarawak on the Sarawak Delta Geopark, which we hoped will get recognition from UNESCO soon," he added.

Meanwhile, SMA General Manager Dr Zaidi Razak said Sarawak has learnt from Melaka on its digital economy initiative before SMA was established.

Dr Zaidi said Melaka is strong in its heritage promotion and tourism and how it has been successful in turning these historical sites to become tourism products.

Zaidi also acknowledged that Melaka is well ahead of Sarawak on promoting its historical city initiative, but it chose to remain humble as it is still willing to come over to learn from Sarawak and SMA on is various initiative which have been successfully implemented. 

Source: Dayak Daily