KUDAT, May 9 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants Malaysia’s digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) agenda to extend beyond Kuala Lumpur, major universities and research institutions, ensuring its benefits reach communities at the grassroots level.
He said the new technology policy must be expanded to every area and district to ensure justice for all citizens, especially the poor and communities in interior, island and rural areas.
“When we made this the national policy two and a half years ago, my concern was that the policy stayed (concentrated) in Kuala Lumpur, in major universities, important research bodies, but did not reach the grassroots.
“So, there is a gap between the educated, the urban rich, and the poor, especially in the interior and remote areas on islands and mountains throughout Sabah,” he said when speaking at the Prime Minister’s Reception with the Local Community of Pulau Banggi here today.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Joachim Gunsalam, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Zulkifli Hasan.
Also present were the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Sabah State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong and Banggi assemblyman Datuk Mohammad Mohamarin.
Anwar said the Madani government would continue to ensure that digital development does not widen the gap between urban and rural areas, but rather becomes a catalyst for the improvement of knowledge, skills and new opportunities for the people.
He said the success of the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) on Pulau Banggi here proved that communities in remote island areas are also capable of excelling in the digital field when given the appropriate space, facilities and support.
The facility was crowned the champion in the capacity building category at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), organised by the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva last year.
He said that although Pulau Banggi is located far from the city centre and faces various constraints in facilities, the area still managed to make Malaysia famous internationally.
The prime minister said this success was also one of the factors that encouraged him to visit Pulau Banggi, so that he could see for himself the achievements of the community and the management of NADI on the island.
“NADI on Pulau Banggi is mentioned among the successful NADIs in our country. On Pulau Banggi, a remote island, there are not many experts, but it is still able to make this place as a leading centre.
"I congratulate not only the NADI management but all the people of Pulau Banggi."
