The Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) has announced an expanded collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and talent development across Sarawak, with the ambitious goal of establishing the state as Malaysia’s leading AI hub by 2027.
Unveiled at the “Innovating and Responsible Generative AI for Public Services” conference on 5 May in Kuching, the initiative is a strategic move under the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030 (SDE 2030), which aims to drive the state’s transition from a resource-based to a technology-driven, sustainable economy.
The partnership will see the rollout of three specialised AWS AI training tracks in 2025, targeting key public sector and early-career professionals:
- Executive AI briefings for 60 senior civil service and government-linked company leaders;
- AWS Certified AI Practitioner courses for 80 public sector personnel; and
- Advanced certifications in Machine Learning and Data Engineering for 120 university graduates.
These advanced-track graduates will join the inaugural AWS Guild Generative AI Incubator programme at the new CENTEXS Invention and Innovation Centre, opening in August. Under AWS mentorship, participants will develop practical AI solutions tailored to Sarawak’s needs, with real-world deployment targeted within four months.
“Sarawak is at an exciting inflection point in its digital journey,” said Eric Conrad, regional managing director for AWS Worldwide Public Sector ASEAN. “Its commitment to building digital capabilities and accelerating AI adoption across the public sector creates a strong foundation for innovation and transformation.”
CENTEXS chief executive officer, Dato Haji Syeed Mohd Hussien Wan Abdul Rahman, added, “Our new Innovation Centre, launching in August, will leverage Generative AI, Machine Learning, and DevOps capabilities to develop practical AI solutions for key industries. Through partnerships with AWS, Sarawak Artificial Intelligence Centre (SAIC), Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS) and industry experts, we’ll create targeted solutions for government services and industries including energy, agriculture, media, and other sectors.”
The move is aligned with Sarawak’s broader goals under SDE 2030, which include enhancing public service delivery through digital platforms, increasing digital literacy among civil servants, and establishing high-performance computing infrastructure to attract global investment and data flows into the state.
Speaking at the conference, Sarawak’s Minister for Utility and Telecommunication, YB Dato’ Sri Haji Julaihi Narawi, highlighted the economic significance of AI. “According to PwC, AI could add USD15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Sarawak must build the capacity and regulatory readiness to tap into this opportunity responsibly,” he said.
The state government is also pushing forward with digital government services, with 54.7 per cent of public services already digitally enabled as of 2024. The newly launched SarawakID Mobile platform, the SCS Mobile+ workplace suite, and AI chatbot ‘Dayang’ are part of this broader transformation.
CENTEXS, established in 2014 under Yayasan Sarawak, plays a central role in upskilling talent across strategic industries and technologies. Its latest partnership with AWS underscores Sarawak’s determination to embed AI into the fabric of its economy, governance, and society in a sustainable and inclusive way. 