AZAM Sarawak Visits the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) & Infrastructures in Samarahan

AZAM Sarawak Visits the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) & Infrastructures in Samarahan

On 12th December 2023, AZAM Sarawak, together with SDI (Sarawak Development Institute) and various organisations, such as the Land & Survey Department (Kuching), HAUS Kuching, Sarawak Bicycle Association, OAKS Kuching, and the Housing and Real Estate Developer Association (SHEDA), took part in a site visit to the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) & Infrastructures in Samarahan, via the ART parking station adjacent to Le'Promenade, Samarahan. AZAM was represented by its chairman, Datu William Patrick Nyigor, CEO, Mdm Lelia Sim Ah Hua, and 4 officers. The visitors were also treated to a "test" ride on the ART vehicle prototype providing some insights on the future operations of the facility and, presenting an opportunity to network with host Sarawak Metro and the related stakeholders. ...
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ABOUT 80 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED TALK ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

ABOUT 80 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED TALK ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

KUCHING, 29 August 2022 – Digital technology had helped open the doors for women to blaze the trails and progress exponentially in various sectors. Datu William Nyigor, Chairman of AZAM Sarawak says the opportunities for elevating women’s development as well as, their contributions to society are diverse – from family development to entrepreneurship. He was officiating at a Talk on Empowering Women through Technology organized by Angkatan Zaman Mansang Sarawak (AZAM Sarawak) in collaboration with the American Corner Sarawak in Kuching, today. Datu William added, Sarawak have yet to fully explore and tap into these potentials in efforts to further advance women in various sectors of socio-economic development. As such, much remains to be done for Sarawak women in this area. About 80 participants attended the talk presented by Ms Jill Finlayson, Director of Expanding Diversity and Gender Equity in Tech (EDGE in TechTM) Initiatives at UC. They included women entrepreneurs, representatives of various women’s organisations, local start-ups, lecturers and undergraduates, members of AZAM,...
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DANA SARAWAK TOURISM ONLINE ECOSYSTEM FUND BANTU PENGUSAHA PELANCONGAN

DANA SARAWAK TOURISM ONLINE ECOSYSTEM FUND BANTU PENGUSAHA PELANCONGAN

KUCHING: Lembaga pelancongan Sarawak (STB) giat membantu para pengusaha pelancongan dengan menyediakan bantuan dana menerusi program Sarawak Tourism Online Ecosystem Fund. Menurut kenyataannya semalam, ia dibuka kepada pengusaha pelancongan di Sarawak bermula 1 Julai hingga 31 Disember dengan kini hanya terdapat 14 kekosongan untuk diisi oleh pengusaha pelancongan sebelum dibuka kepada pengusaha hotel bermula tahun hadapan. "Para pengusaha yang berdaftar dengan Kementerian Pelancongan, Seni dan Budaya Malaysia (<OTAC) boleh memohon dana tersebut bagi tujuan dari segi pembangunan laman web, perkhidmatan dalam talian, mewujudkan kehadiran dalam talian memalui media sosial dan pengeluaran kandungan," kata Pengurus Komunikasi STB Gustino Basuan....
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[COLUMN] Bridging the rural-urban digital gap

[COLUMN] Bridging the rural-urban digital gap

Public libraries have been around forever. The Roman Empire was the first to establish them in the western world. Then Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (whose reign across parts of North Africa spanned from 996–1021) financed and established libraries open to the public to access books and even get them copied free of charge. No matter the era, libraries have always served the greater public good by giving free access to people to learn and cultivate their interests. Today, in the age of the digital economy, the aim to improve the community’s socio-economic status through the sharing of knowledge remains the same, as the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg launched the 42 Digital Community Centres (DCC) across the state at the annual International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) organised by the state government through Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence (SCOPE) on October 8.Established statewide to catalyse the community’s socio-economy through digital inclusivity, the DCCs...
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[COLUMN] Reviving tourism amid Covid-19

Due to Covid-19, tourist travel and arrivals were halted temporarily throughout the MCO period. Going into RMCO, the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MTAC) has had to lower its targeted arrivals to 2 million instead of its original 5 million, and its focus changing to domestic tourists with its intra-state SiaSitok campaign instead to revive and sustain the heavily impacted tourist sector which in 2018 garnered RM11 billion, accounting for 7.5 per cent of the state’s GDP. K-Pop industry expert Prof Suk-Young Kim in her talk “Competitive advantage of KPop through Digital Media”.Screenshot of the Sarawak Travel app In an effort to revive the flagging economy for the remainder of the year, tourism operators have been bolstered with various government incentives.In addition, a booster to the local tourism industry will be the Sarawak Travel App and Web Portal. The travel app works as a directory for users, showcasing an index of attractions, local food, heritage, events and festivals as...
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[COLUMN] From brick-and-mortar to click-and-mortar

[COLUMN] From brick-and-mortar to click-and-mortar

With brick-and-mortar businesses forced to close during the movement control order (MCO), the business of selling and buying had to go online. On top of financial assistance through Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang, the Sarawak government was quick to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) or sellers who, as MCO was extended through the Ramadan season, depended on the extra income from physical Ramadan bazaars by initiating an online platform — Bazar Rakyat Online Sarawakku Sayang. Based on a 2011 census, Sarawak recorded 43,830 SME establishments operating mainly in services and manufacturing, representing 97.3 percent of the total business establishments in Sarawak, showing how vital it is to keep SMEs going. In addition, the Sarawak government also launched the Sarawak Productive programme, a series of webinars to create awareness of digital transformation for SMEs. Read more: https://www.newsarawaktribune.com.my/from-brick-and-mortar-to-click-and-mortar/  ...
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[COLUMN] Exploring the new frontier of digital governance

[COLUMN] Exploring the new frontier of digital governance

Covid-19 delayed a number of our daily activities, providing a harsh reality about the number of things we need to carry out in person. Digital government apps and services suddenly became very crucial  to the continuation of our daily lives, with such services as Sarawak ID and Sarawak Pay. With Sarawak Pay, it became possible during the restricted movement phase to pay utility bills from the safety of one’s homes, thereby lightening the burden of Covid-19 and the subsequent movement restrictions on Sarawakians through contactless pay. Surprisingly Sarawak ID garnered 191,486 registrants throughout the MCO which started on March 18, logging a 33 per cent increase over a six-month period.Inspired by Estonia, where 99 per cent of its public services are available online, Sarawak ID is the Sarawak Government’s digital identity initiative to coordinate ease of access by Sarawakians to government services. To date, 585,688 users have registered with Sarawak ID.There are various public services accessible via Sarawak ID which can be accessed...
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[COLUMN] Connecting Sarawak in the new normal

[COLUMN] Connecting Sarawak in the new normal

Due to its terrain which varies from coastal lowlands to mountainous hinterland, Sarawak has long presented challenges to connectivity in terms of building roads and providing internet access. Throw in the delay brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, and it’s a big challenge for Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) to achieve state-wide connectivity in under-served areas by 2025. “In terms of building connectivity, it’s not just about physical infrastructure (which makes up Phase 1), but also about services (Phase 2). We also need to make sure that its implementation will be sustainable,” said Sarawak Multimedia Authority general manager Dr Zaidi Razak during a live radio interview on RTM’s Sembang Digital Normal Baru on Sarawak FM with AZAM Sarawak as he broke down the factors behind establishing connectivity. So far 184 towers have been built under the Sarawak Multimedia Authority Rural Telecommunication (SMART) programme, with 416 more expected to be built by 2021. To speed up bridging the digital gap, SMA is also working together with...
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Women’s Forum on empowerment and thriving in the digital economy

Women’s Forum on empowerment and thriving in the digital economy

KUCHING, 21 March 2018: More than 100 women from universities, non-profit organisations, government agencies and the media attended the Women's Forum at the TEGAS Innovation Hub to share their journey as women at work, home and business. Deputy State Secretary of Sarawak Yang Berbahagia Datu Dr Sabariah Putit launched the forum that featured an impressive line-up of speakers such as IBM Malaysia managing director Chong Chye Neo, The Tuyang Initiative co-founder Ms Juvita T Wan and Pustaka Sarawak CEO Rashidah Hj Bolhassan. (more…)...
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TEGAS signs MoU with five startups during SCaT Fair 2018

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...
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