Govt Wants To Ensure Rural Community Not Left Behind In Country's Digital Agenda -- Wilson Ugak

KUCHING, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- The government will ensure that rural communities are not left behind in the nation's push for digitalisation, in line with the goal of making Malaysia an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Nation by 2030.

Deputy Minister of Digital, Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, said that initiatives like the Digital Community Roadshow Programme are being implemented to expand the understanding, skills, and economic opportunities of rural communities in the digital world.

He stated that the programme reflects the government's resolve to popularise the digitalisation agenda and ensure that rural communities benefit from the country's digital development.

"This Digital Community Roadshow Programme is not merely a symbolic or casual event. It is a manifestation and commitment of the Unity Government to popularise the national digitalisation agenda," he said at the programme's official launch ceremony at Rumah Johnson Jangu, Sibuti, near Miri, today.

He added that bringing technology closer to rural communities is essential to building Malaysia as a resilient, equitable, and inclusive AI Nation by 2030.

Ugak said that digital skills are now a basic necessity for increasing opportunities in education, business, and rural economic development.

He mentioned that his ministry, through agencies like MyDIGITAL Corporation and MYNIC Berhad, is strengthening efforts to educate the public to be digitally literate and adopt a "digital first" mindset.

In addition, he noted that the implementation of Digital AgTech by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), under the Ministry of Digital, has had a major impact on the country's agricultural sector.

He explained that the use of technologies such as drones, Internet of Things (IoT), and big data helps farmers save cost, monitor crops, and increase agricultural output, which in turn contributes to national food security and strengthens the rural economy.

-- BERNAMA