Sarawak wants its geospatial data as ‘trusted source’ for faster decisions, says Premier

KUCHING (Sept 24): Sarawak wants its geospatial data to become a “trusted source of truth” to enable faster and more accurate government decision-making, said Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

The Premier said land and geospatial information should no longer remain fragmented among individual agencies.

“I want our geospatial data to become a trusted source of truth, not data that is separated according to individual agencies, but one ecosystem that can be shared, supported by strong data governance and security,” he said when closing the Sarawak Land and Survey Innovation and Integrity Day (HIITS) 2026 here on Wednesday night.

Abang Johari, who is also Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, said surveying should evolve beyond merely producing maps and coordinates to providing geospatial intelligence for the government.

He said the implementation of the Sarawak Geocentric Datum 2020 (SGeD20) and development of the SGeDNet network were important foundations for a modern cadastral surveying system more consistent with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology.

He said Sarawak is also exploring the use of nano-satellites and CubeSats to support mapping, monitoring, and development planning.

“When satellite data, drones, GNSS, digital cadastral systems, and geographic information systems can be integrated, the government can make decisions more quickly and accurately,” he said.

He also called for the Land and Survey Department’s valuation function to move further towards data-driven valuation.

Transaction data, geospatial information, and market analytics should be used in a more structured manner to improve valuation accuracy, expedite government decisions, reduce disputes, and ensure state revenue was assessed fairly, he said.

On minerals, Abang Johari said the department’s enforcement and mineral functions were also being strengthened, with the unit rebranded this year as the Enforcement and Minerals Branch.

He said the move reflected the expanding role of the department in line with the potential of the mineral sector as one of Sarawak’s new growth drivers.

“However, the development of mineral resources must be guided by three things: knowledge, governance, and sustainability,” he said.

“In the era of strategic minerals and rare earth elements, decisions cannot be made based on assumptions. They must be based on scientific data, accurate mapping, environmental assessment and clear governance.”

Abang Johari said these developments were part of the department’s broader transition from conventional surveying and land management towards a modern, data-driven system capable of supporting the state’s development and digital economy.

He said HIITS, which brings together innovation, integrity, knowledge-sharing, and recognition of department personnel, provided an important platform to assess not only what had been implemented but, more importantly, the actual impact produced for the people and Sarawak’s development.

“Sarawak already has good strategies, plans and technology; our challenge now is to ensure that all these are translated into swift implementation, sound decisions, and services that truly benefit the people,” he said.

Abang Johari also said the Sarawak government is strengthening strategic cooperation with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) through the establishment of the Sarawak Premier Chair Grant at UTM.

He said 13 research projects had been identified, covering mineral resources, land administration, marine cadastre, climate change and flooding, housing, tourism, urban infrastructure and decision-support technologies.

He described the programme as an important investment in knowledge, but stressed that research should ultimately produce practical outcomes.

“I see this programme as an important investment in knowledge. But I want to emphasise one thing: research cannot end as a report on the shelf,” he said.

He said research findings must be tested, integrated and, where appropriate, translated into policies, technical standards, systems, pilot projects, or actual solutions.

Director of Lands and Survey Sarawak Datu Awang Zamhari Awang Mahmood said the department will continue its strategic collaboration with UTM for another five years, building on research, training, and innovation initiatives that have strengthened the department’s capabilities.

He said the Sarawak government had contributed RM5 million towards research and development under the collaboration, which had provided a platform to link the department’s operational requirements with UTM’s expertise, including in spatial data analysis, high-precision GNSS data processing, maintenance of the SJ20 datum, property valuation, and digital technology.

Meanwhile, the department has introduced the HIITS Ideax Challenge 2026 to give its officers a platform to identify challenges arising from their daily work and develop practical solutions.

Awang Zamhari said HIITS 2026 also provided a platform for staff to showcase their creativity and talents, stressing that a high-performing organisation is built by employees with diverse strengths, interests, and ways of expressing themselves.

Among those present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister for Urban Planning Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya, and Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development permanent secretary Datu Abdullah Julaihi.

Abang Johari Awang Zamhari Awang Mahmood geospatial data lead onsite