Internet speed vital in youth devt
Abang Johari says connectivity in S’wak must increase to help younger generation acquire knowledge
SIBU: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg wants internet speed for all areas in Sarawak to be increased to facilitate youths in acquiring knowledge.
With high- speed internet in Sarawak, youths will be able to go online and obtain the latest information speedily, he said. Abang Johari pointed out that unlike in yesteryears, youths these days are using smart gadgets like smartphones to communicate and acquire knowledge.
“ICT is used for learning and that is why I want to increase the internet speed in all areas in Sarawak.
“Today, you can just google and get anything you want and that is our future,” he said when launching the state-level Youth Day Celebration 2018 at Sibu Indoor Stadium here yesterday.
“I believe in the capability of the youth in commanding modern technology and that is why I want to leapfrog Sarawak (to greater heights) with digital economy.”
Some 5,000 youths participated in the jovial celebration organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports.
The three- day event which ended yesterday paraded a host of programmes to benefit the youth. Abang Johari noted that even farmers are using technology such as the use of fertigation in the planting of fruits.
“Fertigation requires sensors, IOT ( Internet- of-things). That is your era, not my era, and therefore, you must have command of this technology,” he stressed.
He observed that Sarawak has a bright future given that its
ICT is used for learning and that is why I want to increase the internet speed in all areas in Sarawak.
Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Chief Minister
youths are very resourceful and innovative.
“I feel our future is bright – looking at you ( youth) today – I am very, very, very confident that Sarawak will march forward with full harmony, irrespective of race, belief, background, social status – we are one.”
For that reason, he highlighted that the Sarawak government under his leadership wants to help the youths of the future.
“Babies born in 2019 – we will give incentive of RM1,000 but this can only be withdrawn at the age of 18 for tertiary education needs. ( The amount) plus compounded interest – that RM1,000 wi l l become about RM3,000 and that will be enough for you to enter university. Even if you can’t enter university, you can use that as a small capital for small business,” he said.
“One year, there are about 40,000 new- borns (in Sarawak), which means we give RM40 million in a year. And that is for the future,” Abang Johari said.
On the Sarawak Youth Index survey, he said it is to gauge the standard and quality of youths.
“I f we have quality youths today, that means we are going to build quality nation in the future. This is our approach. In Sarawak, we are going to develop specific disciplines in institutions of higher learning.
“In Sibu, we have University College of Technology Sarawak ( UCTS) with specific discipline of studies where you can acquire knowledge for the future.”
He noted that Sarawak youths have talent and creativity which add value to human resources in the state, and urged youths to remain active physically and mentally.
The chief minister also mentioned about the RM5 million allocated to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports to help young entrepreneurs in Sarawak.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah also spoke at the function.
Meanwhile, 29-year- old entrepreneur Ahmad Qadri Basri @ Boseri was named Sarawak Youth in the individual category (male), while 30-year- old dentist Dr Lynn Ko Wei Linn won the (individual) women’s category, each bagging RM5,000.
The Sarawak Youth Association Award was won by Persatuan Belia Warisan Kenyalang, pocketing RM10,000 while first runner-up Pertubuhan Halaqah Kemajuan Muslim Sarawak ( HIKAM) took home RM7,000.
Also present at the launching were Abang Johari’s wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Minister of International Trade and ECommerce and Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and wife Datin Sri Pauline Leong, Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan and wife Datin Melinda Claudia Bucking- Lawan as well as Sibu Resident Charles Siaw.