KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister Jeffrey Kitingan said Sabah should have its own multimedia authority to propel the state into the future by developing and enhancing its digital economy.
He said the multimedia authority could act as a regulatory body like the Sarawak Multimedia Authority to facilitate the development and implementation of Sabah’s digital economy.
“Developing Sabah’s digital economy would see the state competing on a fairer ground as the economy is unlike the preceding industrial revolutions which required heavy investments both from the government and the private sector.
“Obviously, investments are needed to develop our digital economy. Sabah is severely lacking in this area. We cannot even ensure that our people get decent internet signals in many districts.
“Th authority would help plan and execute the state’s strategy not only in developing its digital economy but also to ensure all our people would benefit from it,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Jeffrey, who is also the STAR president, said Sabah is already left behind but believed it is not too late for the government to act.
He reiterated his belief that the state has 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, he said, would be for the state government, through the authority, to engage with huge telecommunication companies such as Huawei to invest in the state by providing them opportunities to build their hub here.
“Our 5G and soon, 6G technology, would be able to serve more than two billion people within our time zone if we become the main internet hub.
“This means Sabah could easily attract multinational companies to set up their bases here. Our young people would have the opportunity to learn and work in this industry which would translate into a higher income,” he said.
Jeffrey said Sabah needs to eventually move away from industries that had been so devastating to the state’s delicate environment such as the unsustainable oil palm industry.