(Borneo Post; August 27, 2010)

KOTA SAMARAHAN: More efforts are required to enhance the utilisation of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the State, said Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS) Chief Executive Officer, Teo Tien Hiong.

He admitted that even though the government had emphasised the use of ICT, there is much more to be done.

"Until today, the utilisation of ICT is not well shaped. However, it is good to see a young and new network formed to reach out to the media community," he said during a seminar themed 'Shaping the future web', which an American-based Professor Bebo White deliberated at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) here yesterday.

The Sarawak ICT Development and Media Network was formed to improve news reporting on ICT development and promote knowledge about the use of ICT.

"The network initiated by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is for us to work together especially for the media to promote better sharing and awareness of what is happening here," said Teo.

In connection with this, he pointed out that the Land and Survey Department (LSD) has been equipped with an up-to-date system to carry out its tasks including land title issuance, land evaluation and administration.

"The department has been invited to Sydney to share its knowledge of the system. And you all can rest assured that with the system, the department will do a better job," said Teo.

UNIMAS Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Peter Songan asserted that people could not overlook ICT for it had enriched lives across the globe.

He said the digital divide must be looked into as the development of ICT progressed.

To bridge the digital divide, the university had played its role through the eBario project, which has been extended to four other sites in Sarawak and Sabah, said Peter.

"The other four are eLamai and eBakelalan in Sarawak and eBuyan and eLarapan in Sabah," he said, adding that the projects would enhance computer literarcy and general computing skills among the rural folks.

These projects also enabled community access to e-government applications, e-learning and information resource exchanges, he said.

With three billion queries processed per day by Google, Peter said this proved that technology changed people's lives with information and knowledge available at the fingertips.

"We can now buy all sorts of stuffs without leaving our homes. This happens because of the Internet and the world wide web. The electronic communities have made the world a much smaller piece".

He added that some companies became more powerful and richer through web technology.

The Sarawak ICT Development & Media Network with UNIMAS jointly organized the half-day seminar to expose local journalists and media organizations to comtemporary ICT matters and trends in the society.