KOTA KINABALU – Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan wants Sabah to set up its own multimedia authority – as what Sarawak has done – to facilitate the implementation and growth of the state’s digital economy.
In a statement, the deputy chief minister said such a body is needed to plan and execute strategies to not only develop the digital economy, but also ensure residents benefit from it.
It can work to attract major telecommunications firms such as Huawei to invest in Sabah by providing them with opportunities to set up bases in the state, he said.
The state should become an internet hub with 5G and 6G technologies to lure such investments, he added.
“This means Sabah could easily attract multinational companies to set up their bases here.
“Our young people would have the opportunity to learn and work in this industry, which would translate into a higher income.”
The Sabah Star president said the state is already left behind when it comes to the digital industry, but it is not too late to start.
Sabah needs to move away from industries that have a devastating impact on the environment, such as the unsustainable palm oil industry, said Jeffrey.
“We need to build a bright future for our children, and their children’s children. The Industrial Revolution 4.0 is our ticket to a more prosperous Sabah.
“But, we need to act now. We have nothing to lose, but everything to gain.
“Developing Sabah’s digital economy would see the state competing on fairer ground, as the economy is unlike the preceding industrial revolutions that required heavy investments from both the government and private sector.” – The Vibes, December 9, 2020
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