Use MDEC’s support to develop Sarawak’s gaming sector, says minister

SIBU (July 6): Sarawak can leverage the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation’s (MDEC) support and assistance by tapping into these resources to develop its gaming sector, said federal Digital Deputy Minister Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong.

He pointed out that with its rich cultural heritage and rapidly growing tech scene, Sarawak has great potential in the global gaming industry.

“Through MDEC, Sarawakian game developers can access funding opportunities, participate in upskilling workshops and gain exposure to international markets.

“This collaboration can help Sarawak harness its creative talent and drive economic growth within the digital and gaming industries. This aligns with the Malaysia Digital national strategic initiative that attracts and encourages companies, talents and investments to converge in Malaysia while enabling local businesses and people to play a leading role in the global digital economy,” he said.

Ugak said this when officiating the two-day International Game Development Conference 2024 at the Dewan Canselor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud at University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) here today.

The Hulu Rajang MP pointed out that for Sarawak, this conference is especially important.

“We have the chance to mix our traditional wisdom with modern innovation, creating games that appeal to the world while staying true to our roots.

“This conference is proof of our commitment to building a strong gaming community here in Sarawak. It is a platform where local talent can shine, where our unique stories can be shared and where our tech advancements can be shown to the world. We are not just participants in this global industry — we are leaders,” he said.

Towards this end, Ugak was confident the conference would spark new ideas, build new partnerships and ignite a passion for game development among all participants.

Earlier, he mentioned MDEC is a lead agency under the purview of the Digital Ministry and supports the gaming industry by providing various programmes and grants designed to nurture talent, promote local game developers and attract international gaming companies to Malaysia.

Also present were UTS vice chancellor Prof Datuk Khairuddin Ab Hamid and conference organising chairman Jackie Ting.