S'wak Premier Calls For Expansion Of Strategic Ties To Drive State's High-Tech Ambitions

KUCHING, Feb 15 (Bernama) -- Sarawak must continue to expand strategic cooperation with experts from within and outside the country to realise its aspiration of becoming a technology creator and move away from being a low-technology-based region, says Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He said the state could no longer remain merely a technology user or assembler, and must shift towards becoming a designer and creator of high-value technology to ensure long-term competitiveness.

“The path towards becoming a technology creator is not easy, as it requires many experts and high research and development (R&D) costs.

“In addition, Sarawak needs to collaborate extensively with experts locally and internationally to achieve this aspiration,” he said in a message today in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration.

He said Sarawak’s early success through SMD Semiconductor in producing artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based compound chips proved the state’s capability to move forward in the semiconductor industry value chain.

Abang Johari said collaboration with CSA Catapult in the United Kingdom enabled research to be conducted in Cardiff, resulting in GaN chips used in Keteq AI devices to enhance electrical energy efficiency.

In addition, he said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between SMD Semiconductor, Yayasan Sarawak and the University of Bristol to strengthen collaboration in research, technology development and human capital development as part of efforts to empower the state’s high-technology ecosystem.

Meanwhile, the premier also called on the people of Sarawak to embrace the spirit of the Chinese New Year celebration to renew their commitment to building a state that remained socially stable and advanced in economic and technological fields.

At the same time, he apologised to the Chinese community for not being able to make Chinese New Year visits this year following the passing of his wife, the late Puan Sri Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, in June last year.

-- BERNAMA