SALUTATIONS
1. Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg
Premier of Sarawak
2. Yang Berhormat Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong
Deputy Minister of Digital
3. Yang Berhormat Datuk Haji Len Talif Salleh
Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment of Sarawak
4. Yang Berhormat Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu
Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development I of Sarawak
5. Yang Berbahagia Mr Fabian Bigar
Secretary General, Ministry of Digital
6. Yang Berhormat Mr Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh
Chairman, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)
Members of Parliament and the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly,
Heads of Federal, State and Private Sector Agencies,
Members of the Media,
Distinguished Guests.
Greetings of Unity, Greetings of Malaysia MADANI, Greetings of Sarawakku Sayang, Greetings of Progressive Sarawak, and Greetings of Segulai Sejalai.
1. First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the invitation to be here today with the digital community of Sarawak in conjunction with this edition of the Jelajah Malaysia Digital, JMD. My highest appreciation goes to MDEC, the Sarawak State Government, the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), as well as all strategic partners who have contributed to the success of this programme.
2. Today, we gather not only to celebrate the growth of the digital creative content industry, but also to recognise the pivotal role of Sarawak as a driving force in the nation’s digital economy. Through various initiatives and strategic investments in digital infrastructure, local talent development, and technological innovation, Sarawak stands as a model of a progressive state in the development of a robust digital ecosystem.
3. Even more commendable is the fact that this development places strong emphasis on the empowerment of local communities, the preservation of culture, and support for local digital entrepreneurs — particularly in the digital creative sector that blends heritage with modern technology. The presence of industry players, creative practitioners, and technology leaders here today is a testament to Sarawak’s position on the right path in spearheading the nation’s digital transformation agenda.
MALAYSIA DIGITAL: AN INCLUSIVE AND STRATEGIC NATIONAL AGENDA
4. The Ministry of Digital remains steadfast in its commitment to realising the aspirations of Malaysia Digital (MD) — a strategic national initiative that positions technology as the core driver of inclusive and competitive socio-economic growth. This commitment reflects the Government’s continuous efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s standing in the rapidly evolving era of global digitalisation.
5. In line with this, five key priority areas have been identified by the Ministry of Digital, namely Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Big Data, Smart Cities, Government Technology (GovTech), Cybersecurity, and the Digital Creative Industry. These focus areas are not merely policy directions — they serve as the backbone of Malaysia’s digital transformation. At today’s event, special attention is given to the digital creative industry, which is playing an increasingly vital role in shaping the nation’s development trajectory.
6. This industry not only contributes to economic growth, but also serves as a platform for cultural expression, heritage preservation, and the shaping of national identity and image. It represents the intersection of creativity and technology, paving the way for entry into the global market.
7. Recognising the immense potential of this industry in empowering the people, the Jelajah Malaysia Digital (JMD) initiative was introduced. This programme was established to expand the digitalisation agenda across the nation, encompassing various segments of society and industry sectors. Launched earlier this year, JMD serves as a 5 strategic platform to deliberate on the challenges and opportunities faced by digital economy players, as well as to identify the barriers hindering their digital transformation progress.
8. JMD also reflects the Ministry of Digital’s continued commitment to ensuring comprehensive and inclusive digital access, so that all Malaysians can actively participate in the digital economy. As of April 2025, the programme has reached five key locations: Ipoh, Taiping, Alor Setar, Sandakan, and Kapit. Today, we arrive in Kuching, where special focus is given to digital creative industry players — as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation’s digital ecosystem in a holistic and sustainable manner.
SARAWAK IN THE CONTEXT OF ASEAN AND THE GLOBAL LANDSCAPE
Distinguished Guests,
9. This year, Malaysia has been entrusted with the mandate to lead the implementation of several key agendas under the ASEAN framework. As such, we must recognise Malaysia’s role — including that of Sarawak — as a leader in the regional digital industry.
10. The global digital content creation market is projected to grow from USD27.99 billion in 2024 to USD57.04 billion by 2029 — reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.6%.
DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT FOR MSMEs THROUGH DICE
11. In realising the Malaysia Digital agenda, we must not overlook the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). They represent over 97% of all businesses in Malaysia and are key contributors to the nation’s economic growth.
12. Through the implementation of the Digital Creative Ecosystem Roadmap (DICE) by MDEC, the Government demonstrates its firm commitment to advancing the digital creative sector, with the goal of positioning Malaysia as a regional digital creative content hub by 2030. DICE is not merely an initiative; it is a holistic strategy designed to build a sustainable ecosystem that supports talent development, market access, investment, and innovation within the industry.
13. When we speak of the digitalisation of MSMEs, it is not limited to traditional businesses. Today, an increasing number of MSMEs are venturing into the digital creative content sector — including microentrepreneurs in freelance animation and illustration, small-scale game studio operators, local creators in audio, digital music, and short-form videos, as well as those producing visual or immersive content to promote cultural products and tourism.
14. In Sarawak, this segment includes independent animators from institutions such as Swinburne and UNIMAS, cultural entrepreneurs leveraging AR/VR technology to promote traditional dance, music, and heritage, as well as content studio owners utilising digital platforms to reach international markets. This is the new face of MSMEs — they are not merely conducting business, but also creating and innovating value through technology.
15. As part of ongoing efforts to support this creative ecosystem, MDEC has also launched two key programmes — the Animated Shorts Challenge and the Digital Games Testbed.
16. Both programmes complement the efforts under DICE and play a significant role in enhancing the global competitiveness of Malaysia’s digital creative industry. They also support digital marketing, usergenerated content creation, and the expansion of income-generating opportunities across various digital platforms. This presents a major opportunity that must be seized swiftly and strategically — not only by large corporations, but also by MSMEs in the digital creative sector, such as freelance animators, game developers, digital cultural practitioners, and local micro-entrepreneurs who are now leveraging digital content to market their products and stories to wider audiences.
SARAWAK’S POTENTIAL IN THE DIGITAL CREATIVE CONTENT INDUSTRY
Distinguished Guests,
17. Sarawak possesses its own unique strengths. With its rich cultural heritage, the creativity of its youth, and strong support from the State Government, Sarawak holds the potential to become a digital creative content hub for both Malaysia and the ASEAN region.
18. In fact, Sarawak’s tourism sector has shown encouraging indicators, recording 3.92 million visitors in 2023 and contributing over RM10 billion to the state’s GDP. With this potential, digital content can serve as a bridge connecting Sarawak’s heritage, culture, and identity to global audiences. It not only expands reach, but also elevates the value and uniqueness of the state on the world stage.
19. I have been informed that companies such as Betapuru Digital, CTRL D, Arx Media, and Metadise have demonstrated commendable achievements and are now well-positioned to enter the global market. This is a source of great pride for Sarawak. 20. Among them, Betapuru Digital, a recipient of the Digital Content Grant 2025 from the Government of Malaysia and MDEC, is currently developing an animated film with strong potential to feature in international film festivals. Meanwhile, CTRL D, founded by two young talents from Swinburne Sarawak and a recipient of the Government’s PRISMA Grant, is actively developing a digital game. Metadise, on the other hand, is currently working on "Tech-Me To Sarawak", a metaverse initiative that promotes the state as a hightech destination. This project is also one of the recipients of the Digital Content Grant 2025.
SARAWAK’S POTENTIAL IN THE DIGITAL CREATIVE CONTENT INDUSTRY Distinguished Guests,
21. In line with our continued commitment to strengthening the digital creative content ecosystem, the successful organisation of Kre8tif! East, held from 14 to 15 May, stands as a significant milestone. The programme successfully brought together industry players, technology experts, and the creative community from ASEAN and beyond. It served as a platform for knowledge exchange, strategic networking, and the exploration of new markets. This proves that we need not wait for local talent to migrate to Kuala Lumpur — instead, the entire industry ecosystem can be brought directly to the Land of the Hornbills, Sarawak.
22. As a continuation of this momentum, the ASEAN Digital Content Summit 2025 will be held in Johor this coming September. The summit is expected to bring together a diverse group of industry players, policymakers, and technology leaders from across the region. Although it will take place in Johor, Sarawak’s role remains significant and strategic, serving as a reference point for other states in advancing the development of the regional digital content economy.
23. This is the strategy for the future: to build a strong digital foundation, drive innovation, and bridge the digital divide. Malaysia is not merely keeping pace with digital transformation — we are leading it.
CLOSING REMARKS
24. In conclusion, I call upon all digital talents, startups, investors, and industry partners to continue creating and innovating. Let us keep investing in the potential of Malaysians, for the future of the digital 10 economy belongs to all of us.
25. I would like to once again extend my congratulations to MDEC, SDEC, and all parties involved in the success of Jelajah Malaysia Digital @Kuching. Let us work together to realise Sarawak Digital 2030 and Malaysia Digital. Thank you.
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