Onus on department heads to implement digital initiatives

KUCHING: Heads of department in the Sarawak Civil Service are urged to fully commit to the three key goals outlined in the Sarawak Digital Economy Action Plan (SDE) 2030 to drive the implementation of digital government initiatives.

State Secretary, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, said that the first priority is to ensure that all state government services are easily and securely accessible online to provide convenience to the public.

“Secondly, every agency must prioritise better availability and sharing of public data for employees to use in developing policies, services, and programmes that are more focused on business and community needs.

“Last but not least, all government transactions are conducted electronically and integrated, and that employees are skilled in digital tools and technology to ensure all public servants are 100 per cent digitally literate,” he said.

Abu Bakar delivers his speech. Photo: UKAS

He said this in his speech during the launch of the Sarawak Government Digital Week 2024 with the theme ‘Towards 100% Online Government Services: Vision 2030,’ organised by the Public Service Digitalisation Unit (SCSDU) here on Thursday.

He also said that Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had said in his mandate to the civil service earlier this year that digitalisation is not an option, but a necessity.

“All parties are reminded to remain committed to the targets set and adhere to the SCS values of ‘Sense of Urgency and Ownership,’ ‘Result Oriented,’ and ‘Team Spirit.’

“The true success lies in the progressive impact we create for the people of Sarawak,” he added.

At the same programme, he also launched ‘SCSMobile+’, an advanced application known as the ‘SCS Super App,’ designed to empower public servants in performing their duties digitally.

He also officiated at the presentation of the SCSDU 2024 Awards, which included the Best Data Cataloguing Agency Award, Best Chief Information Officer Award, Best Assistant Chief Information Officer Award, and Best Webmaster Award.

Also present at the event were the Sarawak State Financial Secretary Datuk Seri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar, Sarawak Attorney General Datuk Saferi Ali, Deputy State Secretary of Sarawak (Economic Planning and Development) Datuk Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, Deputy State Secretary of Sarawak (Administration) Datuk Buckland Bangik and Deputy State Secretary of Sarawak (Operations) Datuk Hii Chang Kee.