Hajiji: Sabah must shift from technology users to creators
by Nancy Lai · Borneo Post OnlineKOTA KINABALU (Sept 23): Sabah wants to nurture a generation that is not merely proficient in using technology, but capable of understanding it, developing solutions, creating value and producing innovations tailored to the state’s unique characteristics and needs.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said mastery of science, technology and innovation (STI) was no longer optional but essential to driving economic growth and improving the people’s well-being.
“In this situation, we cannot merely observe or remain as users of technology. We need to develop a generation capable of understanding technology, producing solutions, creating value and developing innovations that suit the unique characteristics and needs of our state.
“That is why we want to shift the scenario from merely being ‘technology users’ to becoming ‘technology creators’,” he said in a speech read by State Assistant Minister of Women, Health and People’s Well-being Datuk Rina Jainal during the closing of the Integrated STI Cultivation Programme at the Second Central Lecture Hall Complex, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) here on Tuesday.
Hajiji said rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), automation, digital technology, biotechnology, space technology and renewable energy were reshaping how people learned, worked and conducted business.
He said mastery of STI was crucial to supporting the implementation of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 Development Plan, including efforts to develop a skilled workforce in AI, digital technology and other high-impact strategic sectors.
“We do not want the people of Sabah to be left behind in the wave of digital transformation, which is changing the landscape of employment, education and economic development, both now and in the future,” he said.
Hajiji said Sabah’s rich biodiversity, natural resources, cultural diversity and vast economic potential provided a strong foundation for further development through research and innovation.
Potential areas included smart agriculture, food security, biodiversity, green energy, water resource management, healthcare, marine technology, science-based tourism and the digital economy.
In this regard, he said developing talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) was a crucial long-term investment in preparing for future challenges, including advances in AI.
Hajiji said cooperation between the state and Federal governments, particularly involving the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), the State Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (KPSTI) and UMS, should be strengthened to ensure the STI cultivation agenda was implemented continuously and comprehensively.
He said more programmes should be brought to schools and communities, including rural and interior areas, to ensure opportunities for exposure to science and technology were not concentrated solely in urban areas.
He also expressed hope that the programme would serve as a catalyst for greater collaboration among schools, universities, government agencies, researchers, industry and communities through projects, training, competitions, mentoring, joint research and knowledge transfer.
Hajiji said innovations should also be commercialised and applied across various sectors, including to increase agricultural yields and facilitate business operations for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Sabah.
“Every effort we make today to bring the younger generation closer to STI is an investment in Sabah’s future,” he said, while calling on parents and educators to continue supporting children’s interest in STI.