Announcements | Ministry of Digital

OPENING REMARKS

YB GOBIND SINGH DEO MINISTER OF DIGITAL, NETWORK CHAMPION OF MYCENTRE4IR

LAUNCH OF SARAWAK’S TRANSITIONING INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER (TIC)

11 JUNE 2026 | 10.30 AM BORNEO CONVENTION CENTRE KUCHING, SARAWAK 1

SALUTATION

1. The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg

Premier of Sarawak

2. The Honourable Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas

Deputy Premier of Sarawak and Second Minister For Finance & New Economy, and Minister for Infrastructure & Port Development

3. The Honourable Datuk Amar Professor Dr. Sim Kui Hian

Deputy Premier of Sarawak and Minister For Public Health, Housing & Local Government Sarawak

4. The Honourable Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Asfia bin Awang Nasar

Speaker of The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly

5. The Honourable Ministers

6. The Honourable Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Abu Bakar bin Marzuki

Sarawak State Secretary

7. The Honourable Datuk Wilson Ugak Anak Kumbong

Deputy Minister of Digital

8. The Honourable Datuk Dr. Haji Hazland Bin Haji Abang Hipni

Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak

9. The Honourable Deputy Ministers

10. Ms Gim Huay Neo

Managing Director, World Economic Forum

11. Yang Berusaha Mr Adrian Marcellus

Chief Executive Officer, MyDigital Corporation and Head Of Malaysia Centre4IR

TIC Sarawak Signatories,

Head of Departments and Industry Partners,

Members of The Media, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Salam Perpaduan, Salam Malaysia MADANI and a very good Morning.

1. I am very pleased to be here in Kuching today for this landmark occasion.

2. Today is not simply the launch of another programme. It is the day Sarawak becomes home to Malaysia's first Transitioning Industrial Cluster (TIC) under the World Economic Forum's global initiative, joining a select group of fewer than 40 TICs around the world that are helping shape the future of industrial transformation.

3. This is a significant achievement not only for Sarawak, but for Malaysia. It reflects our shared ambition to strengthen economic competitiveness, accelerate industrial transition and position Malaysia as a leader in the industries of the future.

4. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Sarawak State Government, particularly the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (MEESty), whose leadership and commitment have been instrumental in realising TIC Sarawak. Sarawak's Energy Transition Policy and Post-Covid Development Strategy 2030 have provided the vision and foundation that made this milestone possible.

5. I would also like to acknowledge the team at MYCentre4IR under MyDIGITAL Corporation for their leadership in bringing together stakeholders across government, industry, academia and the international community to make TIC Sarawak a reality.

6. I also wish to thank the World Economic Forum, whose strategic partnership with the Government of Malaysia led to the establishment of MYCentre4IR as part of the global Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network. The successful mobilisation of 25 TIC signatories under a common governance framework demonstrates what can be achieved when institutions work together towards a shared vision. The milestone we celebrate today is a direct reflection of that collective effort.

7. Malaysia's digital economy already contributes nearly a quarter of our national GDP. Under the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint and the 13th Malaysia Plan, we are working towards increasing that contribution to 30 per cent by 2030, while creating 500,000 high-value digital related jobs for Malaysians. In MD 2030, TIC is a national initiative jointly driven by both the Ministry of Digital and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (MITI) in collaboration with the State Governments.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

8. Achieving these ambitions requires more than policy frameworks. It requires real platforms that can translate national priorities into measurable outcomes. TIC Sarawak is one such platform. By bringing together industrial transformation, energy transition and digital innovation, it creates new opportunities for investment, job creation and long-term economic growth.

9. The significance of TIC Sarawak extends beyond Sarawak itself. At a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, volatile energy markets and increasing competition for investment, countries must strengthen their industrial resilience, energy security and economic competitiveness.

10. In such an environment, industrial transition is no longer simply an environmental imperative. It is an economic and strategic necessity. Countries that can secure cleaner, more reliable and more diversified sources of energy will be better positioned to attract investment, protect their industries and remain competitive in global markets.

11. This is why TIC matters. The industries that succeed over the next decade will not necessarily be those that are the largest today. They will be the ones that adapt fastest, innovate continuously and remain competitive in a lower-carbon, technology-driven economy.

12. Sarawak is uniquely positioned to lead this transition. With its renewable energy resources, hydropower strengths, ambitious hydrogen agenda, industrial capabilities and long-term vision under PCDS 2030, Sarawak has many of the ingredients required to become a regional leader in sustainable industrial development and clean energy growth.

13. The priority areas identified under TIC Sarawak reflects this ambition. Across Digital and 4IR, Energy and Talent, the focus is on building the capabilities industries need to compete in the next economy: smarter operations, cleaner industrial systems, better use of data and a future-ready workforce.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

14. This is where the Ministry of Digital plays an important role. While TIC Sarawak is anchored in industrial and energy transformation, digital technologies are the enablers that make transformation possible at scale. More importantly, TIC Sarawak provides a real-world platform for Malaysia to advance its ambition of becoming an AI Nation.

15. Our vision for AI Nation 2030 is not simply about adopting new technologies. It is about building national capability. It is about ensuring that AI creates value for businesses, strengthens productivity, supports innovation and generates new economic opportunities for Malaysians. Achieving this requires environments where AI can be deployed responsibly and at scale, and TIC Sarawak provides exactly such an environment.

16. Our role is to build the digital foundations that allow industries to operate more efficiently, make better decisions and remain globally competitive. This means enabling the use of AI, data analytics, digital twins and automation. It means ensuring that data can be shared securely and responsibly. And it means providing the AI compute infrastructure, cloud capabilities and digital platforms that

support innovation and growth.

17. In many ways, TIC Sarawak represents the convergence of Malaysia's industrial, energy and AI ambitions. It demonstrates how emerging technologies can move beyond experimentation and become practical tools for improving productivity, strengthening competitiveness and accelerating sustainable growth.

18. What makes TIC Sarawak particularly valuable is that it is not a pilot project or a theoretical framework. It is a live industrial environment where technologies can be deployed, tested and scaled under real operating conditions.

19. For Malaysian technology companies, startups, system integrators and talent, this presents an opportunity to develop and deploy home-grown solutions, build expertise and strengthen our position within regional and global value chains.

20. At the same time, we must remember that technology alone is never enough. Success will ultimately depend on people. That is why talent development remains a critical pillar of TIC Sarawak. By working closely with industry to identify emerging skills requirements and create pathways for workforce development, we can ensure that Malaysians are equipped to benefit from the opportunities this transition creates.

21. Before I conclude, I am pleased to announce that MYCentre4IR has established the 4IR Intelligence Network Community, a platform bringing together government, industry, academia and the technology ecosystem to strengthen collaboration and support the responsible adoption of emerging technologies, including AI, digital twins and industrial automation. More details will be shared by MYCentre4IR in the coming weeks.

22. I would like to once again thank everyone who made this milestone possible: the Sarawak State Government, MEESty, the World Economic Forum, the TIC signatories and industry partners, and the team at MYCentre4IR for bringing together government, industry, academia and international stakeholders behind a shared ambition.

23. Today, we are launching more than a cluster. We launch a platform for innovation, industrial competitiveness, sustainability and opportunity. We are also demonstrating how Malaysia's ambitions in artificial intelligence, digital transformation and industrial development can come together to create real economic impact.

24. The future of industry will be defined by those who are prepared to lead change, not react to it. Sarawak has chosen to lead. Malaysia has chosen to lead. Together, we will build a future that is more competitive, more sustainable and more prosperous for all Malaysians.

Thank you.

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