THE OPENING OF THE DIGITAL PENANG NEW OFFICE
SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW
FOR THE OPENING OF THE DIGITAL PENANG NEW OFFICE
12 March 2021 @ Wisma Yeap Chor Ee
YB Prof. Dr P. Ramasamy
Deputy Chief Minister II
YB Jagdeep Singh
EXCO for Housing, Local Government, Town & Country Planning
YB Dato’ Haji Abdul Halim Hussain
EXCO for Trade & Industry and Entrepreneurial Development
YB Zairil Khir Johari
EXCO for Transport and Infrastructure
Dato’ Seri Stephen Yeap Leong Huat
Chairman of the Wawasan Education Foundation (WEF)
Mr Tony Yeoh
CEO of Digital Penang
Honoured guests and friends from the media
In August 2018, the State Government launched the ambitious Penang2030 vision – To be a Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation. From the outset, it was clear to us that in order to realise this vision, a strategic enabler is needed.
To this end, the Digital Transformation agenda was developed as the enabler that must work in tandem with the development of the physical environment and aspects laid out in that vision.
As such, the Digital Transformation Masterplan and the establishment of Digital Penang was identified as a foundational project during the announcement of the Penang2030 vision.
We are here today to celebrate this milestone, as another promise delivered by the State Government.
The release of the Digital Transformation Masterplan is both timely and challenging. Never before has Penang and Malaysia, for that matter, faced such great odds on a multiple of fronts. A global pandemic threatens to undo a generation of economic progress while the confidence of foreign investors is shaken in view of how our country’s political direction is unfolding.
This plan, outlined over the next 3 years, begins with a simple question: How can Penang leverage technology to achieve the Penang2030 vision?
The driving purpose is to have in place the right foundations for Penang to transition and thrive in the era of the digital economy. The impetus is to have every person and entity embrace the digital transformation, in the same way every stakeholder in Penang has a role and a deserving place in Penang2030.
The Digital Transformation Masterplan is therefore strategically designed to be cross-domain over all sectors of the economy and all structures in the State Government; corresponding to the establishment structure of Digital Penang as the lead agency to drive this crucial agenda.
It is befitting that this plan is organised into four strategic pillars – Economy, Infrastructure, Governance and Community – which is underpinned by digital journeys to ensure a wholistic, outcome-based digital transformation that makes a difference for every Penangite.
The Penang State Government is expected to spend RM50 million over the next 3 years to deliver on the Digital Transformation Masterplan.
Honoured guests,
In conjunction with the launch of the Digital Transformation Masterplan, we are also here to officiate the new office of Digital Penang here, at Wisma Yeap Chor Ee.
The presence of Digital Penang here is timely and strategic. Located in the heart of the George Town UNESCO Heritage zone, Digital Penang will play a crucial role as an anchor for the digital ecosystem; a true embodiment of fusion between digital and heritage.
Already, this Heritage zone is the focal point for a variety of digital players ranging from academia, private sector and government agencies which is creating an ecosystem of synergy. Upcoming plans include the establishment of Wawasan Open University’s School of Digital Technology and Facebook’s Live Lab at Bangunan UAB.
Ladies & gentlemen,
The future is exciting, and possibilities endless. I call on everyone to support the State Government’s Digital Transformation Masterplan to realise the Penang2030 vision by leveraging digital technologies as an enabling tool.
Thank you.