Mandela touring the exhibition in conjunction with the opening of the 18th Digital@Sabah Seminar and Digital Tamu 2026 at SICC, Kota Kinabalu, today.
KOTA KINABALU: The State Government wants the Government Technology (GovTech) agenda to focus on Citizen Experience and proactive service delivery, in line with efforts to make government dealings easier, faster and more user-friendly.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said the GovTech philosophy places citizens at the centre of its approach (people-centric design), meaning the Government should no longer wait for people to seek out services or face burdensome bureaucratic processes.
“Instead, technology should be harnessed to ensure government services reach the people directly, seamlessly and in a user-friendly manner,” he said when officiating at the opening of the 18th Digital@Sabah Seminar and Digital Tamu 2026 at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), here, today. His speech was delivered by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Ceasar Mandela Malakun.
Hajiji said digital transformation was crucial to improving the Ease of Doing Business in Sabah, thereby attracting investment and driving the State’s economic growth.
“However, we must remember that advanced technology is merely a tool. GovTech will have no meaning without a change in attitude and mindset (mindset shift) among civil servants,” he said.
He said the efficiency, integrity and empathy of civil servants were the ‘main engine’ that gave technology its purpose in promoting the wellbeing of Sabahans.
He said public sector modernisation through GovTech would also enable State and Federal Government agencies to break down siloed working systems.
“Integration of data and systems between Federal and State agencies is a prerequisite for creating government services that are fast, easy and transparent, particularly in efforts to narrow the socioeconomic gap and ensure the benefits of digital development reach people in rural and interior areas,” he said.
Hajiji also reminded that increased reliance on the digital ecosystem must be accompanied by strong cybersecurity safeguards, including protection of the personal data entrusted to government agencies.
Meanwhile, he said the Digital Tamu programme, held concurrently, reflected the commitment of the State and Federal Governments to supporting and driving the local digital economy ecosystem, particularly involving Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Sabah.
He said Digital Tamu brought together up to 30 exhibitors, including local technology companies offering digital solutions and the latest technologies, as well as supporting agencies such as the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (SCENIC) as facilitators in accelerating the digitalisation of MSME businesses in the State.
“I sincerely hope local entrepreneurs will make full use of this platform for the sustainability of their businesses in this digital era,” he said.
