KUCHING – The state government has officially launched a new comprehensive digital identity platform, marking a significant step forward in its digital governance strategy.
The system, known as SarawakPass, was introduced by the Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg, as a major evolution from the previous SarawakID framework.
The enhanced platform integrates several critical digital services into a single access point. It combines robust digital identification features with high-level Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) security, a digital wallet functionality, and the MyBenefit service.
This consolidation is designed to create a unified and trusted gateway for citizens to interact with all state government digital services securely.
The Premier articulated the vision behind the initiative during his address at the opening ceremony of the Sarawak International Digital Economy Conference 2025 (IDECS25).
He stated that the platform embodies the principle of ‘one identity, multiple opportunities’, aiming to guarantee that every resident has secure, straightforward, and seamless access to the government’s expanding digital ecosystem.
He described the innovation as symbolic of a broader governmental vision—one that is accessible at any time and from any location, built upon a foundation of trust, operational efficiency, and social inclusiveness.
The move is part of a concerted effort to streamline bureaucratic processes and enhance citizen engagement through technology.
In a related announcement to bolster the state’s technological capabilities, the government has also established the Sarawak Artificial Intelligence Centre (SAIC).
This new facility is intended to serve as a central hub for artificial intelligence research, talent cultivation, and collaboration with industry partners. Its mandate is to speed up the implementation of AI across key economic sectors.
These sectors include smart energy management, contemporary agricultural practices, urban development planning, and logistics.
The centre’s work is crucial for positioning Sarawak at the forefront of the global shift towards intelligent transformation.
The Premier also highlighted the successful development of the state’s own processor, Keteq AI.
This energy conversion chip, specifically a Gallium Nitride (GaN) chip, is produced by the state-owned company SMD Semiconductor.
Its creation is cited as clear evidence of Sarawak’s transition from a resource-based economy to one driven by knowledge and innovation. The Premier emphasised that this represents resource-driven progress in its most advanced form.
The collective digital and technological ecosystem is expected to generate substantial economic benefits. Officials project that it will create up to 3,000 new highly skilled jobs, stimulate growth in downstream industries, and fortify the state’s overall technological infrastructure. The semiconductor sector alone is forecast to contribute significantly to the state’s economic output.
This contribution is projected to reach RM30 billion towards Sarawak’s Gross Domestic Product. These efforts are integral to supporting the broader objectives outlined in the Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which targets a state GDP of RM282 billion by the end of the decade. The launches signal a determined push into high-tech industries.
