Press Release

Engaging Grassroots Communities in Digital Development

KUCHING: Advancements in digital and communication technologies are fast-transforming the global economic landscape and Sarawak will not be left out in this digital revolution. In its efforts to ensure that Sarawakian communities are well-equipped to participate in this new economy, various initiatives have been carried out by the state government to ensure digital inclusivity.

As an effort to familiarise and educate grassroots leaders on development strategies and trends under the digital economy agenda, Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) in collaboration with Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak is organising a one-day workshop called Randau Digital Sarawak themed “Ke Arah Masyarakat Digital” on 5 September 2018 in Limbang.

A hundred participants comprising members of the Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) from Limbang Division are expected to attend this one-day workshop.

The workshop is primarily to generate awareness among JKKK members – who are among the state’s development frontliners, on the importance and benefits of digital economy. The workshop seeks to equip the JKKKs with the relevant knowledge and networking that can enable them to mobilise their respective communities to initiate activities that promote and nurture digital economy.

The sessions will be conducted by government representatives from Department of Agriculture Sarawak (DOA), Kuching District Office, UNIMAS, and local industry players.

Among the key sectors to be discussed at the workshop are capacity-building on digital economy, e-tourism, technopreneurship and digital agriculture.

The one-day event will also include a randau session with local elected people’s representatives who will provide an opportunity for the people to voice out and discuss their concerns about digital economy initiatives and development.

It is the first in a series of workshops for JKKK, in a programme by SMA and AZAM, to promote digital inclusivity. The next workshop is scheduled to be held in November for Miri Division.

For more information, contact Yaana Singkie (AZAM Sarawak) at 082-411799 or e-mail: yaana@azam.org.my.

Our Work

Watch out for AZAM Toastmasters Club at i-CATS’ Creating Life on Campus programme

EVENT UPDATE: i-CATS’ Creating Life on Campus programme has been postponed to a later date. Watch this space for more updates!

(from left) AZAM Toastmasters vice president Azim Ismail, president Bong Kuek Kong, AZAM community development officer Mohd Wasli bin Mohd Ismail, communication officer Margaret Apau and Nissa Normin.
PROGRAMMES IN THE PIPELINE: (From left) AZAM Toastmasters vice president Azim Ismail, president Bong Kuek Kong, AZAM community development officer Mohd Wasli bin Mohd Ismail, communication officers Margaret Apau and Nissa Normin.

A day of confidence-building sessions and an introductory course to AZAM Toastmasters Club (AZAM TMC) is in the works for International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak’s (i-CATS) inaugural “Creating Life on Campus” programme on 8 September 2018.

Continue reading Watch out for AZAM Toastmasters Club at i-CATS’ Creating Life on Campus programme →

Development News

TEGAS signs MoU with five startups during SCaT Fair 2018

KUCHING: The Sarawak Bumiputera Technical Education Promotion Charitable Trust (TEGAS) announced that it will be collaborating with five agencies in various sectors under digital technology during the launch of Sarawak Career and Training (SCaT) Fair 2018 on March 10.

TEGAS exchanged MoUs with Azendian Solutions Sdn Bhd, Chumbaka Sdn Bhd, EFFEX Co Sdn Bhd, Petrosar Academy Sdn Bhd and Satu Creative Services Sdn Bhd where theywill collaborate in data analytics, gaming and virtual reality, robotics and drones, flying simulation as well as entrepreneurship coaching and mentoring.

“All of these efforts will improve the performance of TEGAS as the leading platform in promoting digital innovation which comprises STEM, TVET and entrepreneurship innovation in Sarawak,” said TEGAS chairman Datu Len Talif Salleh before the launch of SCaT Fair 2018 by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg themed “Enhancing Employability”.

Jointly organised by Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research (MESTR) and TEGAS, the three-day education and career fair also featured 17 speakers talking on career and educational opportunities as well as the STEM Playground, Hackweekend Kch and UCSI’s The Big Chef.

The STEM Playground had 24 educational institutes, companies and agencies offering stimulating acitivites for children in the realms of digital innovation such as drones, robots, data analytics, coding, 3D holograms, 3D printing, lab activities and more.

The activities were geared towards sparking the interest of children and parents in science, technology, engineering, mathematics towards digital innovation and digital economy.

Another highlight of SCaT Fair 2018 was the collaboration under TEGAS and Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre Berhad (MaGIC) where participating youth were given 50 hours to write code for an agricultural project, one of the main thrusts under the Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy, especially in IoT and Big Data.

Hackweekend Kch will continue onto other divisions in Sarawak and will see more youth participants challenged to find coding solutions for manufacturing, tourism, smart city, digital health, e-commerce and digital government.

SCaT Fair 2018 hosted 70 educational institutes and training centres, 60 companies offering 5,526 jobs, nine agencies offering scholarships and bursaries.

TEGAS will also be holding what will be its biggest educational roadshow to date – Project of Dreams Realised (PRO-DR) the week after next which will begin from Lundu to Lawas so that youths from rural areas will be able to enjoy the same opportunities as their urban counterparts.

Our Work

AZAM and SDI visit Hanoi to study its sustainable rural development programmes

Angkatan Zaman Mansang Sarawak (AZAM Sarawak) and Sarawak Development Institute (SDI) kick-started the new year with a study visit to Hanoi, Vietnam from 14th to 19th January 2018.

The objective of this five-day study visit was to learn from Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD) and Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) on the development policies, initiatives and strategies Vietnam adopted to accelerate development sustainably in the country.

The study visit also enabled AZAM and SDI members to explore ways on how to engage rural communities to ensure sustainability not only for rural development but also for the rural economy.

About 16 delegates comprising AZAM Board Members, SDI Board Members and secretariat from both organisations attended the five-day study visit to Hanoi.

Continue reading AZAM and SDI visit Hanoi to study its sustainable rural development programmes →

events, Our Work

AYCLive@Borneo744 berlangsung dengan meriah!

Oleh : Mohd. Hassnal Hakim Junaidi
Diterjemah dan disunting oleh : Margaret Apau

KUCHING: Dalam usaha kita memastikan pembangunan ekonomi digital di Sarawak terus berkembang, AYCLive@B744 tampil menyediakan pelbagai aktiviti yang bermanfaat dan menyeronokkan demi untuk menggalakkan penglibatan belia dalam agenda pembangunan negeri ini.

Kira-kira 350 orang pengunjung telah menghadirkan diri dalam program kerjasama antara AZAM Young Souls dan AZAM Sarawak yang berlangsung pada 18 November 2017 di Borneo744 Jalan Semangat itu, antaranya adalah terdiri daripada mahasiswa Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), persatuan belia sekitar Kuching dan Samarahan serta orang awam.

Pengunjung turut tidak melepaskan peluang dalam menyertai bengkel tekno keusahawanan yang dikendalikan oleh Mac Jake yang membicarakan berkenaan dengan peluang anak muda dalam menembusi pasaran hari ini dalam membina kerjaya mereka masing-masing.

Mac Jake pengasas CampFyre dan rakan kongsi bagi Squirtle Sdn Bhd memberi penekanan kepada kreativiti dan inovasi dalam keusahawanan.
Mac Jake pengasas CampFyre dan rakan kongsi bagi Squirtle Sdn Bhd memberi penekanan kepada kreativiti dan inovasi dalam keusahawanan.

Selain itu juga, Wilson Beh yang merupakan pakar dalam bidang fintech atau teknologi kewangan, juga tidak ketinggalan dalam memberikan pendedahan kepada peserta bengkel mengenai konsep dan senario dalam bidang ini supaya mereka faham akan kepentingnya dan dapat mengadaptasikan ia sekaligus merealisasikan perkembangan ekonomi digitial di Sarawak.

Beh semasa mengendalikan bengkel tentang teknologi kewangan.
Beh semasa mengendalikan bengkel tentang teknologi kewangan.

Bengkel keusahawanan seni yang dikendalikan oleh Shaikh Azahar Shaik Hussain, pensyarah fakulti seni gunaan dan kreatif Unimas, pula memperlihatkan potensi bidang ini bukan sahaja boleh dijadikan sebagai minat semata-mata malah ianya dapat memberikan pulangan dari segi ekonomi kepada kita semua.

Syaikh Azahar menekenkan tentang potensi bidang seni dalam arena ekonomi digital.
Syaikh Azahar menekenkan tentang potensi bidang seni dalam arena ekonomi digital.

Selain daripada perkongsian ilmu daripada pakar, AYCLive@B744 juga menampilkan pelbagai aktiviti menarik seperti busking, jamming, pameran motosikal dan kereta besar, pameran cosplay, jualan lambak, pameran pendidikan dan banyak lagi.

Tambahan pula, AYCLive@B744 kali ini juga memberikan kelainan apabila julung kalinya penganjuran ini melibatkan sesi forum yang dikenali sebagai sesi “Ngopi Ngeteh” dengan membicarakan topik bertajuk “Adapting to Change and Riding On Trends in the 4.0 Era”.

Forum ini menampilkan ahli panel seperti Zaiwin Kassim, kurator TEDx@Kenyalang, Beh, salah seorang pengasas PolicyStreet dan Ashweein Narayanan, wakil dari hub masyarakat kreatif HAUS KCH dan wakil MAGIC Sarawak Amirin Arsyan dan dikendalikan oleh AZAM Young Souls iaitu Muhd Ammar Zafri Zainuddin dan Amalina Matali.

Sesi "Ngopi Ngeteh" membicarakan tentang potensi ekonomi digital untuk membangunkan masa depan belia Sarawak.
Sesi “Ngopi Ngeteh” membicarakan tentang potensi ekonomi digital untuk membangunkan masa depan belia Sarawak.

Forum sesi ini diserikan lagi dengan persembahan pertunjukkan fesyen daripada mahasiswa Universiti Teknologi Kreatif Limkokwing (LUCT) diriingi dengan persembahan muzikal daripada At Adau, Soundholic, Foxgloves dan persembahan tarian moden dari kumpulan tari UNIMAS.

Majlis penutupan telah dirasmikan oleh Dominic Chuo, Ahli Lembaga AZAM Sarawak dan turut sama Lelia Sim Ah Hua, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif AZAM Sarawak.

Mengambil gambar sebagai kenangan selepas akhirnya forum: (dari kiri) Amirin, Zaiwin, Sim, Ashweein, Chui, Beh dan Timbalan Pegawai Eksekutif Rosalind Yang Misieng.
Gambar kenangan selepas tamat sesi forum: (dari kiri) Amirin, Zaiwin, Sim, Ashweein, Chuo, Beh dan Timbalan Pegawai Eksekutif AZAM Sarawak Rosalind Yang Misieng.

Turut hadir sama memeriahkan majlis adalah Krew Cats Rangers yang mengadakan kuiz kepada orang ramai dan dikuasakan oleh Warrior Energy Drink selaku penaja minuman khas pada hari tersebut.

Media Coverage

Sarawak talents deserve chance to shine – AZAM top official

KUCHING: Sarawak talents must strive to be the best that they can be and compete with their counterparts throughout the country.

In this respect, Angkatan Zaman Mansang Sarawak (AZAM Sarawak) board member Dato Norhyati Mohd Ismail believes that the locals deserve the chance to shine.

“We want our talents to become real players and directors – among the best in Malaysia,” she said at the closing of AZAM Sarawak’s workshop on content creation themed ‘Telling Sarawak’s Stories’ at a hotel here recently.

Norhyati, however, admitted that the main constraint is funding.

Read more: Sarawak talents deserve chance to shine: AZAM top official

Development News

Launch of SKR1M submarine cable in Sarawak to catalyse growth of digital economy and digital lifestyle

KUCHING, 18 December: Sarawak is one step closer to state-wide internet connectivity with the launch of Sistem Kabel Rakyat 1Malaysia (SKR1M) submarine cable system on 18 December 2017.

SKR1M was built with the objective to enhance the existing domestic submarine cable connectivity between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak thus catering for future bandwidth growth requirements.

“The establishment of this new submarine cable system is part of the government’s initiative to increase and improve internet access availability and quality in Sarawak,” said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg at the launch.

Continue reading Launch of SKR1M submarine cable in Sarawak to catalyse growth of digital economy and digital lifestyle →

Media Coverage

State government urged to help local creative talents

KUCHING, Dec 16: Nurturing the state’s creative industry to be among the best in the country as well as in the region, will require the Sarawak government to lend a helping hand to aspiring local filmmakers, entrepreneurs and undergraduates in this field.

Angkatan Zaman Mansang Sarawak (AZAM Sarawak) board member Dato Nurhyati Ismail said now that the state is moving toward a Digital Economy, resources and technologies for the creative industry would now be more accessible to these creative people; however, the cost would pose a problem for most to even start a project.

Read more here: State government urged to help local talents

Media Coverage

Polishing the Young Guns

BORNEO 744 on November 18 was filled with youth of different passion, each with the fiery intensity to perform the talents laid in the heart of each of them. There were a group of boys and girls feeling the winds through their hair, the same wind that touches their face as they rode on their skate boards, up the ledge, despite falling down multiple times, the same many times they stood up and continued on. Such is also a description, that is best to describe the youth that participated in AYCLive@Borneo744, an event to bring out the best in them despite their differences.

There are also those exhibiting their love for fast cars, and building them, as well as those who love cosplaying their favourite anime characters. Meanwhile, also were were those that have a passion for handicrafts as they sat at their booth explaining to those interested in the how-to of creating crafts.

The programme known as AYC (AZAM Youth Central) Live@B744 is an urban youth programme introduced by Angkatan Zaman Mansang Sarawak (AZAM Sarawak) to provide a platform for local youths to engage in current development programmes and activities. This particular AYCLive@Borneo744 is the first of the AYCLive series to be held outside AZAM Youth Central since its first introduction in 2013.

Read more here: Polishing the Young Guns

events, Our Work, Press Release

Exciting lineup of activities at AZAM’s AYCLive@Borneo744 youth event

AYCLive@B744

KUCHING: Workshops, musical performances, recreational sports and more await at Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak’s latest edition of AYCLive on November 18 at Borneo744.

Free and open to the public, AYCLive@Borneo744 will be a one day event starting from 8am to 6pm. AYCLive is AZAM Sarawak’s signature youth event that combines artistic and recreational activities with programmes that promotes personal and professional growth among the youth.

Among the bands slated to perform at AYCLive@Borneo744 are At Adau, Soundholic, Foxgloves, Amey Suhaili, Afiq Zafi, Adi Bazli, Co-Ed Crew, Kenshin Clan, and Imaginasi Music.
Among the bands slated to perform at AYCLive@Borneo744 are At Adau, Soundholic, Foxgloves, Amey Suhaili, Afiq Zafi, Adi Bazli, Co-Ed Crew, Kenshin Clan, and Imaginasi Music.

Come and be entertained with musical performances by At Adau, Soundholic, Foxgloves and modern dance by University Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas). Watch out for the fashion show staged by Limkokwing Borneo which will also see At Adau performing.

Continue reading Exciting lineup of activities at AZAM’s AYCLive@Borneo744 youth event →

Advocating Development Communication for Greater People Participation