D-Virtual Park, a way to expose population to technology, digital innovation — Sarawak CM

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 — D-Virtual Park, Borneo’s first virtual reality (VR) theme park by Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd (SDHB), which was officially launched in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, today is a good initiative by the company to create awareness and exposure among the rural population to embrace the latest technology and use of digital devices and applications.

Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the VR theme park is in line with the Sarawak government’s agenda to push the digital economy as this is one of the ways to revolutionise the digital economy among the 2.8 million local population.

“In order to be aggressive in the market, we need to be linked to the market.

“Therefore, we must use the linkages to the market, namely by promoting the use of blockchain, the link that is chained to the world,” he said in speech at the launching ceremony today.

He also said the Sarawak government is in the midst of upgrading its network infrastructure, where it has invested RM1 billion from the state fund into upgrading works, including installing telecommunication towers, apart from receiving matching grants from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. 

Abang Johari also said as the state agriculture activities encompass most of its citizens, the government is aggressively promoting commercial agriculture based on technology, while continuing the use of Sarawak Pay, the first state to introduce a mobile payment system in the country.

He said with the imagination that the VR and augmented reality (AR) simulation offer in games and studios for the public, students and entrepreneurs, it could challenge the thinking of individuals to be more creative and innovative in the VR theme park.

Meanwhile, Serba Dinamik Group Bhd chairman Datuk Abdul Kadier Sahib said despite the COVID-19 pandemic that led to many challenges, it however, has shifted peoples’ mindsets, especially the senior citizens and those who were reluctant to adopt technology and digital applications to adapt to using smartphones and shopping online.

“Here (the VR park)… also has creative studio and lab facilities for start-ups where they can be connected to three other research facility centres in the world, namely the Indian Institute of Technology Madras; Stanford University, California; and Shenzhen Open Innovation Lab,” he said.

Abdul Kadier said the D-Virtual Park was initiated by SDHB to support the state government’s digital economy agenda, and it is built using the best digital technology, comprising virtual reality and innovative digital entertainment.

He said SDHB invested RM13 million to develop the park which is expected to attract 500,000 visitors within the first year of its opening.

The ceremony also witnessed the singing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) by SDHB’s wholly-owned unit Serba Dinamik IT Solutions Sdn Bhd (SDIT) with Sarawak E-Sports Association (SESA).

The MoU is aimed at promoting digital adoption among future talent via the e-sports industry, as well as, establishing and collaborating on the utilisation of SESA Mini Esports Hub @ D-Arena in the Serba Digital Innovation Studio, Kota Samarahan for the e-sports industry, creative, animation and games (VR/AR) development. 

SDIT also signed an MoU with the Sarawak Women and Family Department (JWKS) to promote and empower digital inclusivity for women in technology and enterprise in Sarawak, as well as, to establish a cooperation and collaboration in utilising the Serba Digital Innovation Studio and JWKS centres for women to participate in innovation and leadership programmes. 

Besides that, StartUp Borneo signed an MoU with Women Rise Malaysia to promote and empower digital inclusivity for women in technology and enterprise, as well as, to establish a cooperation and collaboration utilising the Serba Digital Innovation Studio.

Meanwhile in a statement, SDHB group managing director/chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohd Abdul Karim Abdullah, who was unable to attend the event as he was in quarantine, said the collaborations would open a new frontier for the group’s technology ventures and will bring the Industrial Revolution 4.0 technologies onto a wider base.

“We want visitors to D-Virtual Park to see what these technologies are capable of and how these can help in everyday life.

“This includes reaching out to women and showing them what these technologies can do for them. We hope to promote and empower them with these technologies which we believe are important tools for the digital age that we live in,” he added. 

— BERNAMA