Sarawak wants its geospatial data as ‘trusted source’ for faster decisions, says Premier

Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Sarawak's Premier, emphasized the need for geospatial data to become a "trusted source of truth" to facilitate quicker and more accurate government decision-making. He stated that land and geospatial information should not remain fragmented among individual agencies, but rather be shared within a unified ecosystem, supported by robust data governance and security protocols.

Abang Johari, who also serves as Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, highlighted the importance of evolving surveying practices beyond map-making and coordinates to providing geospatial intelligence for the government. He stressed that the implementation of the Sarawak Geocentric Datum 2020 (SGeD20) and the development of the SGeDNet network were critical foundations for a modern cadastral surveying system, better aligned with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology.

Furthermore, Abang Johari outlined the government's exploration of nano-satellites and CubeSats to enhance mapping, monitoring, and development planning. He called for integrating satellite data, drones, GNSS, digital cadastral systems, and geographic information systems to enable more rapid and precise government decision-making.

Regarding mineral resources, Abang Johari announced that the department's enforcement and mineral functions were being strengthened, with the unit rebranded as the Enforcement and Minerals Branch. He stressed that the development of mineral resources must be guided by knowledge, governance, and sustainability. Abang Johari emphasized that these advancements were part of a broader transition towards a modern, data-driven system to support the state's development and digital economy.

He noted that the HIITS event brought together innovation, integrity, knowledge-sharing, and recognition of department personnel, providing an essential platform to evaluate both the implemented initiatives and their tangible impact on the people and Sarawak's development. The Premier also announced the strengthening of strategic cooperation between Sarawak and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) through the Sarawak Premier Chair Grant at UTM, which includes 13 research projects spanning mineral resources, land administration, marine cadastre, climate change and flooding, housing, tourism, urban infrastructure, and decision-support technologies.

The program aims to convert research into practical outcomes, with the department contributing RM5 million towards research and development under the collaboration.