Sarawak: Sarawak must continue to expand strategic cooperation with experts from within and outside the country to realise its aspiration of becoming a technology creator and move away from being a low-technology-based region, says Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. He emphasized that the state could no longer remain merely a technology user or assembler and must shift towards becoming a designer and creator of high-value technology to ensure long-term competitiveness.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Abang Johari highlighted that the path towards becoming a technology creator is challenging, requiring numerous experts and high research and development costs. He stressed the importance of extensive collaboration with both local and international experts to achieve this aspiration.

The premier noted Sarawak's early success through SMD Semiconductor in producing artificial intelligence-powered Gallium Nitride-based compound chips, demonstrating the state's capability to advance in the semiconductor industry value chain. He mentioned collaboration with CSA Catapult in the United Kingdom, which enabled research in Cardiff, resulting in GaN chips used in Keteq AI devices to enhance electrical energy efficiency.

Additionally, Abang Johari reported a Memorandum of Understanding signed between SMD Semiconductor, Yayasan Sarawak, and the University of Bristol to strengthen collaboration in research, technology development, and human capital development, as part of efforts to empower the state's high-technology ecosystem.

Meanwhile, the premier urged the people of Sarawak to embrace the spirit of the Chinese New Year celebration to renew their commitment to building a state that remains socially stable and advanced in economic and technological fields. He also expressed his apologies to the Chinese community for not being able to make Chinese New Year visits this year following the passing of his wife, the late Puan Sri Juma'ani Tuanku Bujang, in June last year.