KUCHING: Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said today that the state government is establishing the Sarawak AI Centre, which will lead the state's initiatives in artificial intelligence (AI) development and its integration into the digital infrastructure.
He said the centre would be pivotal in driving innovation and positioning Sarawak as a hub for AI research and development.
"Through strategic partnerships with academic institutions, industry leaders, and government entities, the Sarawak AI Centre will be nurturing a vibrant AI ecosystem," he said at the opening of the Seventh International Digidal Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) here today.
He said one of the centre's flagship initiatives was the "AI for Smart Agriculture" programme, which uses AI-powered data analytics to optimise crop yields and promote sustainability in agriculture.
He said the centre was also spearheading healthcare projects, such as predictive analytics for early disease detection and enhancing energy efficiency through AI-driven smart grid systems.
Abang Johari said the state remained dedicated to implementing ethical and transparent digital strategies that enhance the quality of life for Sarawakians.
He said the state government would launch its "AI Talent Development Initiative" to cultivate a skilled workforce equipped with advanced AI competencies, aligning with the demands of future industries.
He said these initiatives underscored the state's commitment to harnessing AI as a fundamental driver of digital transformation across various sectors.
"Moreover, the state government is forming an AI Unit within the civil service and developing an AI data centre to bolster our capabilities.
"We will collaborate with industry experts, academia, federal authorities and international bodies, ensuring a meaningful contribution to our AI transformation journey," he added.
He said the state government was also at the forefront of AI in public service delivery, adding that its "Dayang" virtual assistant — a local dialect-enabled chatbot — allows Sarawakians to access government services effortlessly through their mobile devices.
He said the tool enhanced user interaction and provided localised services, supporting basic functions like bill payments, Sarawak ID assistance, contractor registration, and case logging via Talikhidmat.
He said that for the private sector, Sarawak Digital Economy Corp (SDEC) was mandated to lead digital transformation in multiple economic areas.
He said the efforts include initiatives such as Go Digital, SME Digitise, Sarawak Digital Mall, and Kamek Digital.
He said SDEC and its key partners, such as the state International Trade, Industry and Investment Ministry, had digitalised more than 20,000 micro, small and medium enterprises across various industries in Sarawak.
"Through the High Tech Transformation Programme, 10 Sarawakian companies in the manufacturing sector have greatly benefited from digital technology adoption in their daily processes," he said.
He said the state's digital strategy prioritised local innovation and entrepreneurship.
He said SDEC had empowered the private sector economy in establishing efforts to catalyse the academia-industry linkage via the development and testing of novel or improved products with research and development expertise in emerging technologies.
Abang Johari said the state, which launched its e-wallet, SPay Global (formerly Sarawak Pay) platform in 2017, had facilitated cashless transactions across various public and private services, boosting digital financial inclusion.
He added that to date, SPay had processed RM4.2 billion in transactions, with a registered user base of 770,000 and 91,000 merchant partners in the region.