Abang Johari: Cultivate interest in ICT among youths
KUCHING: The state government is calling on various organisations to work with schools and institutions of higher learning to create interest among the young people in ICT.
Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the support from the various organisations is vital as the government cannot develop the state’s digital economy on its own. He said one of the ways to help is through offers of internship and/ or the awarding of scholarship to the young people.
“With the Sarawak government having set its sights on developing the state’s economy into a digital one, we need to get our young people interested in and on board ICT or related careers.
“I look to businesses and industries to play a key role in retaining our local computing experts.
“Corporations also need to reinvent themselves in view of the growth and spread of ICT in the industries today,” he said at the launching of ‘ Big Day in Sarawak’ and the memorandum of understanding ( MoU) signing between Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and Australian Computer Society (ACS) at the multi-purpose hall of Swinburne Sarawak here yesterday.
He applauded Swinburne Sarawak and ACS for coming together through the MoU to work on facilitating the recognition of a skil led ICT professional workforce as a key driver for national productivity, innovation and wellbeing; to promote and develop the ICT profession and the associated professionalism; and promote IT and related technology career pathways as an enviable study option to young people.
Thi s move, he said, was commendable in view of the Multimedia Super Corridor ( MSC) Talent Supply- Demand study 2 013 - 2 017 which had reported that there would be a shortage of 5,000 to 7,000 ICT graduates from 2014 to 2017.
He noted that the Manpower Group’s Talent Shortage Survey 2015 found that IT staff were ranked fifth in terms of most di f f icult- to- fill jobs for the Asia- Pacific region. Globally, a shortfall in ICT professionals is also expected, he added.
Abang Johari a lso urged parents, who are oftentimes deci sion maker s in thei r children’s career choices and therefore, what they study in higher education, to learn more about digital technology and how it is driving the future of the world today.
“Suppor t your chi ldren’s decision if they choose computing as their career choice.”
The Chief Minister stressed that to compete effectively in the 21st century, organisations can no longer rely on the traditional way of doing business. He said the ‘ business as usual’ mentality must give way, adding that technology must be part of their inventory and they need to engage experts in the field.
“On our pa r t , the s t ate government is committed to developing ICT infrastructure for speed of connectivity, promote Sarawak as a place to host data centres, promote e- learning among youths and establish a Digital Vi l lage and the E-Commerce Transformation Plan to 2030.
“As high- speed broadband and high connectivity is the foundation of a digital economy, the Sarawak government aims to provide high- speed broadband connection to improve the level of economic development and the lives of our people,” he said.
KUCHING: Institutions of higher learning in Sarawak are asked to help produce cyber security experts who can defend the state’s cyber system.
Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said it is necessary to have these experts in line with the state government’s move to make Sarawak a cyber powerhouse.
“In other words, we need a lot of people who are experts in cyber security. And this is a new discipline.
“And I hope in the very near future, the higher learning institutions, especially Swinburne Sarawak, will have a programme to produce cyber security experts in order to defend our cyber system,” he said.
The Chief Minister was speaking at the launching of ‘ Big Day in Sarawak’ and the signing of a memorandum of understanding ( MoU) between Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and Australian Computer Society (ACS) at Swinburne Sarawak here yesterday.
“We have to have experts who can monitor and track any attack that comes into our system.
“We must be able to track whatever approaches other experts take so that we also know what they are doing.
“That means we must produce our cyber security experts in order to regulate the system of management in our digital economy,” he said.
Abang Johari said establishing digital economy for Sarawak may be a long and challenging journey, but was confident that
In other words, we need a lot of people who are expert in cyber security. And this is a new discipline. Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Chief Minister
with the support of business establishments, industries, institutions of higher learning such as Swinburne, and professional bodies in contributing their areas of expertise, Sarawak would be able to achieve its goal of establishing digital economy that will propel the state to greater heights of development.
The state government had announced that it would set up the Sarawak Multimedia Authority ( SMA) to regulate the development of ICT infrastructure and digital economy utilisation.
Under the proposed SMA, the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation will be established to coordinate all digital economy initiatives including infrastructure, e- government, e- commerce, talent development and cyber security.
Also present at the event were State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin, and Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee.