Kota Kinabalu: Sabah must set up its own multimedia authority to help propel the state into the future by developing and enhancing its digital economy, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
He said the multimedia authority could act as a regulatory body, just like the Sarawak Multimedia Authority, to smoothen the development and implementation of Sabah’s digital economy.
The Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president said developing Sabah’s digital economy would see the state involved in a fair competition.
“Obviously, investments are needed to develop our digital economy. Sabah is severely lacking in this area. We cannot even ensure our people get decent Internet access in many districts.
“This new body will help plan and execute the state’s strategy not only in developing our digital economy, but also in ensuring all our people will benefit from it,” he said in a statement here today.
Jeffrey said that although Sabah was lagging behind, it’s still not too late for the government to venture into the industry and reiterated that Sabah had the potential to be the main hub for the region’s growing digital economy due to its strategic location.
“An easier and faster option to immediately put Sabah on the map would be for the state government, through the new multimedia authority, to engage with huge telecommunication companies, such as Huawei, to invest in Sabah by providing them with opportunities to build their hub here.
“Our 5G, and soon 6G, technology would be able to serve more than 2 billion people within our time zone if we become the main Internet hub.
“This means Sabah can easily attract multinational companies to set up base here. Our young people will have the opportunity to learn and work in this industry, which will then translate into a higher income,” he said.
Jeffrey said Sabah would eventually need to move away from industries that had been so devastating to the state’s delicate environment, such as the unsustainable oil palm industry.
“We need to build a bright future for our children and their children. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is our ticket to a more prosperous Sabah. But we need to act now. We have nothing to lose but everything to gain,” he said.
