Anwar wants digital transformation, AI to reach grassroots

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim wants the country’s digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) policy not only to focus on Kuala Lumpur, major universities, or research institutions, but also to reach the people 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 the 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 the 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 in Kudat, Sabah, today.

Also present were Deputy Chief Minister I Joachim Gunsalam, representing Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Mustapha Sakmud, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Hasan.

Also present were the Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Sabah State Secretary Safar Untong, and Banggi assemblyperson 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.

According to him, the success of the National Information Dissemination Centre (Nadi) on Pulau Banggi, which was crowned the champion in the capacity building category at the World Summit on the Information Society organised by the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva last year, proves that communities in remote island areas are also capable of excelling in the digital field when given the appropriate space, facilities and support.

He said that although Pulau Banggi is far from the city centre and faces various constraints in facilities, the area still managed to make Malaysia famous internationally.

The prime minister said that this success was also one of the factors that made him want to go down to Pulau Banggi himself to see the community’s achievements 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 a leading centre,” he said.

He said the success of Pulau Banggi Nadi should be a catalyst for communities in remote areas to continue building capabilities in the digital field, thus proving that technological development can be utilised by everyone.

- Bernama