BY LUCIA TEREY JOHN
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sarawak government led by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is committed to ensuring that the development of digital infrastructure will be among the important agenda to be given attention in the context of the state’s development.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Wanita deputy chief Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said this was because this development is viewed as the key success factor in helping Sarawak become a developed state by 2030.
She said on this commitment, much had been given towards efforts to ensure that there would be Internet access in all corners of the state to enable its people to get involved in the digital economy.
“We (Sarawak) do not want to be left behind by neighbours such as Indonesia. Imagine when Indonesia moves its capital to East Kalimantan that borders Sarawak, surely there will be economic competition and other opportunities.
“Therefore, we need to plan as well as can be and ensure all economic activities are given focus and emphasis,” Nancy, who is the (Federal) Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, told Bernama recently.
Nancy said the careful planning showed that the state government was serious in wanting to raise the quality of life for its people through the empowerment of the local economy.
“This is behind the various major challenges in providing relevant infrastructure.
“We also understand the vastness of Sarawak, which is almost the size of Peninsular Malaysia, and its challenging terrain which pose many challenges in infrastructure development costs as well as the time factor for both the state and federal governments.
“Because of that, I hope that the federal government can consider providing a larger allocation so that the people in Sarawak and rural areas, in particular, can catch up with city dwellers in getting Internet access which has become a basic necessity nowadays,” she said.
Meanwhile, Nancy, who is also the Batang Sadong Member of Parliament, reminded the opposition leaders not to overstate (their case) to the state government on development issues in Sarawak.
She said the opposition should remember that they had been given the opportunity to bring change to Sarawak during the previous transfer of power at the federal government level, but were unable to bring about a good impact during their rule. – Bernama
