KUCHING – The Sarawak Government has launched a new initiative to accelerate the digital transformation of local enterprises, with a TikTok Shop Live Selling competition designed to expand their market reach globally.
This move represents a significant step in strengthening the state’s digital entrepreneurial ecosystem and creating fresh opportunities for business owners.
Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, the Sarawak Deputy Premier, emphasised the government’s determination to foster digital growth during the launch ceremony at the Sarawak International Digital Economy Conference 2025 (IDECS25).
He presented compelling data demonstrating the sector’s rapid expansion, underscoring the initiative’s strategic importance.
“Total income increased by 72.2 per cent, from RM22.7 billion in 2015 to RM39.1 billion in 2022,” the Deputy Premier revealed.
He further highlighted the crucial role of small businesses, noting that “e-commerce income generated by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) increased by an average of 8.1 per cent per annum to reach RM10.7 billion in 2022.”
Aligned with these efforts, the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030 sets an ambitious target of achieving an 80 per cent digitalisation rate for MSMEs by 2030.
This goal is intended to unlock further innovation and facilitate access to international markets for local products.
A key aspect of this digital push is the strategic partnership between the state government and TikTok. The Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED) became the first government agency in Malaysia to formalise a collaboration with TikTok Malaysia in 2023.
The initial phase of this partnership, though starting modestly with just 105 sellers from Sarawak, yielded impressive results.
The Deputy Premier reported that the programme achieved a gross sales value exceeding RM1 million, demonstrating the platform’s powerful capacity to connect local products with global consumers.
Building on this initial success, a two-year extension was signed in 2024 to promote the Sarawak Digital Mall Local Festival on an international scale.
The initiative’s impact has grown substantially, with the Deputy Premier announcing that “by the second quarter of 2025, the Digital Mall had recorded sales of RM11.9 million, benefiting over 1,000 participants and 350 vendors.”
This focus on live-selling platforms reflects a broader regional trend, with Southeast Asia’s social commerce market experiencing significant growth.
The state government has reiterated its commitment to cultivating a dynamic digital economy that empowers local communities, generates sustainable prosperity, and establishes Sarawak as a leading hub for digital trade and entrepreneurship in the region.
