Pulau banggi: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that the nation's digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives should extend beyond Kuala Lumpur and major academic institutions to reach grassroots communities.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar stressed the need for the technology policy to encompass all areas and districts, ensuring equitable access for all citizens, particularly those in impoverished and remote locales. He expressed concern that the policy, established two and a half years ago, has been overly concentrated in urban centers and has yet to bridge the divide between urban and rural populations, especially in underdeveloped regions like Sabah.
Addressing the Prime Minister's Reception with the Local Community of Pulau Banggi, Anwar reiterated the MADANI Government's commitment to preventing digital development from exacerbating disparities between urban and rural areas. He highlighted the role of digital advancements in enhancing knowledge, skills, and opportunities for all citizens.
Anwar praised the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) on Pulau Banggi, which earned international recognition by winning the capacity building category at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) organized by the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva. This achievement, he noted, demonstrates the potential of remote island communities to excel in the digital realm when provided with adequate resources and support.
The Prime Minister visited Pulau Banggi to witness firsthand the community's accomplishments and the management of NADI. He acknowledged the island's success despite its geographic challenges and a lack of experts, celebrating its emergence as a leading digital center. Anwar commended both the NADI management and the local population for their achievements.
He urged that Pulau Banggi NADI's success serve as a model for other remote communities to develop digital competencies, affirming that technological advancements can benefit all societal sectors.