{"id":28562,"date":"2026-03-23T01:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T17:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rakancommunity.com\/web\/?p=28562"},"modified":"2026-03-24T10:48:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T02:48:37","slug":"empowering-local-initiative-to-bridge-the-human-acceptance-gap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rakancommunity.com\/web\/empowering-local-initiative-to-bridge-the-human-acceptance-gap\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowering Local Initiative to Bridge the Human Acceptance Gap"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the heart of Sarawak\u2019s vast landscapes, a powerful shift is unfolding. Digital transformation is moving beyond a story of steel and signal to one of people and purpose<\/strong>. While the state\u2019s Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 lays the groundwork with NADI centres and the SMART600 project, the true measure of success isn’t found in the height of a tower, but in the empowerment of the community<\/strong> it serves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Access Points to Community Hubs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The network of NADI centres has successfully achieved complete coverage across Sarawak, with 156 centres now operational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the most significant evolution is not in their number, but in their emerging role as community-owned and operated hubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent data from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) reveals that nationally, NADI Smart Services recorded 1.4 million participations as of December 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A growing portion of this participation is shifting from passive use to active community engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community-led initiatives are beginning to redefine the function of these centres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, NADI Teku in Sibu, which serves 858 registered members, has become a catalyst for micro-entrepreneurship, training ten local businesses to sell products online.<\/p>\n\n\n

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This success stems from a shift in management philosophy: centres are increasingly co-managed by local community committees that tailor programmes to local needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In several longhouses in the Kapit division, community leaders have transformed their local NADI centre into a “digital village hall,” where it is used not only for internet access but also for community meetings, e-government application assistance, and even as a space for youth to develop digital content that promotes local culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite these successes, a critical observation emerges: approximately 60 per cent of registrants at such centres are students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This statistic underscores a persistent reliance on public facilities for education, highlighting that home-based internet remains either unavailable or unaffordable for many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it also points to a unique opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community acceptance of NADI centres as essential educational infrastructure is high, providing a strong foundation on which to build more advanced, community-driven digital services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenge is to evolve these centres from substitutes for home connectivity into spaces for advanced skill development, as seen in Spain\u2019s Vuela Points Network, which has transitioned into advanced technology hubs with teleworking areas, digital fabrication laboratories, and entrepreneurship support.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The SMART600 project, a public-private partnership, represents a massive infrastructural achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of July 2025, 587 towers had been completed, benefiting approximately 180,000 residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the project’s long-term success is now contingent on community acceptance, a factor often overlooked in purely technical rollouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initial resistance in some communities, stemming from concerns about health, land rights, and the disruption of traditional ways of life, has provided crucial lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response, the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) and MCMC have implemented more robust community engagement protocols, beginning with pre-construction consultations and town hall meetings in longhouses to explain technology, address health concerns, and negotiate land-use agreements with community elders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These initiatives are bolstered by local employment programmes that prioritize hiring residents for tower maintenance and liaison roles, fostering a direct economic stake in the project\u2019s success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To ensure long-term accountability, transparency in service quality is maintained through community-led monitoring groups in regions such as Belaga and Marudi, which empower locals to report on reliability and hold providers to a high standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This shift from a top-down infrastructure deployment to a co-creation model has proven critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A recent survey of communities in the Sarikei division indicated that acceptance of new towers increased by over 40% when residents felt they were consulted and had a clear understanding of the benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, the use of Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) technology, while efficient, has presented a new challenge: community confusion over service plans and provider choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response, community-based digital literacy programmes now include modules on consumer rights and how to compare service quality, empowering residents to make informed choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This localizes the concept of “affordability,” moving it beyond simple price to include value and trust in the service provided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sarawak’s digital governance, the SarawakPass unified digital identity platform, aims to create a more proactive and efficient state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The iSarawakCare platform, which has facilitated over 300,000 applications for the Kenyalang Gold Card, exemplifies this shift from a “pull-based” to a “push-based” service model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the acceptance of such platforms depends on community trust in data security and the perceived fairness of automated systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is where community initiative becomes paramount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most successful digital governance initiatives have been those where community leaders acted as intermediaries, or “digital champions.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These trusted individuals help their neighbours navigate the SarawakPass registration process, explain the benefits of the Kenyalang Gold Card, and address concerns about data privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many rural areas, the acceptance of digital government services is directly correlated with the endorsement of a tuai rumah (longhouse chief) or a respected community elder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sarawak AI Centre (SAIC), with its RM5 million allocation for 2026, is developing tools like the DeepSight health platform and AI diagnostic tools for skin and eye diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The success of these tools in rural areas will not be determined by their technical sophistication, but by their acceptance by local communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pilot programs for the AI diagnostic tools are now being designed with community health workers as co-developers, not just end-users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By involving them in testing and feedback loops, the SAIC is fostering a sense of ownership and ensuring the tools align with local cultural contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This approach mirrors the community-led model of Taiwan’s Cool AI Learning System, which is co-designed with teachers to reduce administrative burdens and improve rural education.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The true measure of the SAIC’s success will be the extent to which its innovations are adopted and championed by the communities they are meant to serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Socio-Economic Participation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exponential growth of the S Pay Global platform, serving 1.6 million users and 95,000 merchants is a testament to the changing economic landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The state government\u2019s allocation of RM33 million to evolve it into a digital bank represents a significant push towards financial inclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the transition to a cashless society is not merely a technical or economic shift; it is a social and cultural one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community acceptance of digital payments is driven by tangible, localized benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The success of the Sarawak Digital Mall initiative, which generated nearly RM12 million in sales from Sarawakian sellers on TikTok Shop, was amplified by community-based training programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These programs went beyond teaching technical skills; they focused on helping rural entrepreneurs build a digital brand that resonates with their cultural identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A food producer from a remote longhouse, for example, is more likely to accept digital payments if they see other respected community members successfully using them and if the platform is perceived as a tool to promote their heritage, not just a corporate system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, community acceptance of digital banking is tied to the role of trusted intermediaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the absence of physical bank branches, community leaders and local entrepreneurs are stepping in as informal advisors, helping others understand digital transactions, manage their digital wallets, and navigate the new financial ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This grassroots adoption is critical, as it builds resilience and ensures the digital economy is not just imposed from above but grows from within the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Persistent Challenges Through a Community Lens<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While progress is undeniable, a community-focused analysis reveals three persistent challenges that require a shift in strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gap between access and community-validated use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital literacy programmes must move beyond basic safety to encompass skills that are valued by the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MCMC’s national focus on safe internet campaigns, with 9,666 programmes implemented in 2025, is important but insufficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A community-centred approach would involve developing programmes that align with local economic activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, in agricultural communities, digital literacy could focus on using apps for market prices, weather forecasting, and smart farming techniques, skills that have an immediate, tangible benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Chinese study on digital literacy revealed, a key differentiator between high and low-literacy counties is the shift from passive entertainment to active, functional use (e.g., financial payments, healthcare apps, productivity tools).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sarawak’s NADI centres must evolve to cultivate this functional use, moving from “how to use the internet” to “how to use the internet to improve your rice harvest or market your handicrafts.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Affordability as a community-led affordability challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the state has allocated RM20 million to subsidize broadband charges, the deeper issue is the total cost of ownership for a household.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A community-led approach would explore shared ownership models, such as community-purchased devices and pooled data plans, to reduce individual costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It would also involve working with community leaders to identify the most vulnerable households for targeted device subsidies, ensuring that support reaches those who need it most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal is to move the conversation from “affordable data” to “affordable and meaningful participation.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bridging the dual-track digital economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The risk of a bifurcated digital economy, one track focused on high-tech AI and semiconductors, the other on basic rural access is real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bridging this divide requires deliberate, community-focused initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, the semiconductor manufacturing capabilities being developed by SMD Semiconductor could offer pathways for rural youth, but only if there are intentional community-based training and apprenticeship programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, the AI diagnostic tools developed by SAIC will only benefit rural communities if they are deployed through community health centres with the involvement of local health workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bridge between the “high-tech” and “community” tracks must be built by design, not left to chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lessons in Community and Acceptance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

International comparisons offer powerful lessons on the importance of community initiative and human acceptance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–       Taiwan demonstrates the power of community-based educational technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         The Cool AI Learning System, developed through a Memorandum of Understanding between rural counties, provides AI-driven learning diagnostics and instructional support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         Its success lies in its co-creation with teachers, reducing their administrative burden and allowing them to focus on student care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         For Sarawak, where NADI centres are heavily used by students, this model offers a pathway to transform these centres into active learning hubs, co-managed by teachers and community volunteers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–       Spain’s Vuela Points Network provides a blueprint for the evolution of community digital centres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         With over 760 centres, the network has transitioned from basic digital literacy to advanced technology hubs, equipped with digital fabrication labs, teleworking areas, and entrepreneurship support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         This evolution was driven by community demand and a recognition that centres must remain relevant as household connectivity improves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         For Sarawak, this is a vision for the future of NADI centres: not as a substitute for home internet, but as a community space for innovation, collaboration, and advanced skill development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–       Germany’s Mobile Futurium project emphasizes “future literacy”\u2014the ability to understand and shape technological consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         By bringing a mobile participation space to rural schools, it empowers young people to become co-creators of their digital future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         This aligns with Sarawak’s ambition to be a creator of technology and underscores the need for educational programmes that go beyond using technology to shaping it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–       South Africa’s digital strategy, articulated by the UNDP, stresses the importance of viewing digital inclusion not as a crisis but as an opportunity to empower communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         The focus on scaling small, community-based pilots into interoperable platforms is directly relevant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         It emphasizes that digital public infrastructure should be seen as a tool for community empowerment, not just service delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–       Italy’s 5G-enabled digital education project in Naples and Matera, supported by EU funding, showcases how advanced connectivity can be combined with community-focused initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         The project includes smart agriculture learning centres and AI-driven innovation labs, specifically designed to improve socio-economic inclusion in vulnerable communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         For Sarawak, this demonstrates the potential to tailor advanced connectivity to the specific economic activities of local communities, such as smart agriculture for rural farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sarawak’s digital transformation is at a critical juncture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The infrastructure is largely in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next phase of success will be defined by how well the state fosters community initiative and secures human acceptance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This requires a fundamental shift in strategy from a focus on supply (infrastructure) to a focus on demand (community ownership, skills, and trust).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommendation 1   :             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empower Community Digital Champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Formalize the role of community leaders and trusted individuals as “Digital Champions.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Provide them with training, resources, and a stipend to act as intermediaries for digital services, assist with registration, and lead local digital literacy programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will build trust and ensure that digital transformation is driven by community insiders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommendation 2   :             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evolve NADI Centres into Community Innovation Hubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the Spanish model, transform NADI centres into multi-functional community hubs. This involves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Equipping them with advanced tools: 3D printers, digital fabrication tools, and equipment for multimedia content creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Developing community-curated content: Supporting local communities to create digital content that promotes their culture, language, and heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Offering skills training aligned with local economies: Programmes in digital marketing for local products, e-commerce for rural entrepreneurs, and smart agriculture techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommendation 3   :             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pilot Community-Owned Connectivity Models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the most remote areas, explore community-owned network models where local communities are responsible for managing and maintaining their last-mile connectivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This could be in partnership with the SMART600 infrastructure and would foster a greater sense of ownership and accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommendation 4   :<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Integrate Community Feedback Loops into AI and Governance Tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mandate that all AI and digital governance tools, such as those developed by SAIC, undergo a community validation phase before full-scale deployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This involves co-design with end-users (e.g., community health workers for diagnostic tools) and establishing community feedback mechanisms to report issues and suggest improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommendation 5   :<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reframe Digital Literacy as “Community Literacy.” Develop digital literacy curricula that are co-created with community elders and local organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These curricula should focus not just on safety but on practical skills that have immediate community value, such as using digital tools for agriculture, preserving cultural heritage through digital media, and participating in local e-governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sarawak’s digital journey is a story of remarkable ambition and tangible progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the NADI centres to the SMART600 towers and the Sarawak AI Centre, the foundations for a digital future are being laid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the ultimate success of this transformation will be measured not by the sophistication of its infrastructure, but by the depth of its community engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The farmer in a remote longhouse, the student in a rural school, and the small trader in a local market must not only have access to digital tools but must also have the skills, the trust, and the agency to use them to improve their own lives and strengthen their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The global lessons are clear: the most sustainable digital transformations are those that are built with communities, not just for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By shifting its focus from infrastructure provision to community empowerment, Sarawak can ensure that its digital future is one of shared prosperity, where technology serves as a tool to unite, not divide, and where every community, regardless of its location, can actively participate in and shape the digital age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coming years will be defined by the choices made today, choices to invest in human capacity, to empower local champions, and to build digital systems that are trusted, accepted, and owned by the people they are meant to serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

References<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Borneo Post. (2026, January 24). MSMEs must embrace digitalisation or risk being left behind, says Naroden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Borneo Post. (2026, March 8). Sarawak\u2019s AI journey: From ambition to execution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BERNAMA. (2026, February 16). NADI SMART SERVICES RECORD 1.4 MILLION PARTICIPATIONS NATIONWIDE – MCMC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BETTER FUTURE Awards. (2026, March 16). Digital Platform for Benefits, Incentives and Social Welfare Assistance (iSarawakCare).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Info Mercati Esteri. (2025, November 25). Malesia – 7 milioni per modernizzare servizi digitali del Sarawak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ministry of Communications. (2026, March 16). NADI Pelengkap Usaha Sarawak Beri Kemudahan Internet Kepada Rakyat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ministry of Communications. (2026, March 16). MCMC, SDEC Meterai Perjanjian Percepat Kesalinghubungan Digital Di Sarawak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sarawak Tribune. (2025, November 24). RM450 million to step up efforts to close digital divide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See Hua Daily News. (2026, February 28). \u4e61\u533a\u4e5f\u65e0\u73b0\u91d1\u65f6\u4ee3\uff01\u7f57\u4f26\u6c99\u52a0\uff1a\u7802\u652f\u4ed8\u666e\u53ca\u5316 \u7802\u62c9\u8d8a\u8fc8\u5411\u6570\u4f4d\u65b0\u793e\u4f1a.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Statista. (2026, March 5). Infographic: The Global 5G Divide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RRI.co.id. (2026, January 13). Internet Access Distribution is Crucial for Inclusive Digital Education: Govt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Government Technology Agency, Singapore. (2026, February 6). The digital nervous system: Powering a responsive Smart Nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yunlin County Government. (2026, February 2). Four Counties and Cities Sign \u201cCool AI\u201d Cooperation MOU \u2014 Joining Hands to Advance Smart Education and Narrow the Urban\u2013Rural Learning Gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peking University Institute of Public Governance. (2026, January 4). National County-Level Rural Residents\u2019 Digital Literacy Assessment Report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan Telecommunications Engineering and Consulting Service. (2026, February 26). APT Senior Executive Policy Training Workshop Held.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nation. (2026, January 2). Internet Boom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Magtel. (2026, February 4). Magtel strengthens its commitment to Andalusia\u2019s digital transformation at Vuela Meeting 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Las Portal. (2025, October 17). EU invests \u20ac5 million to launch 5G digital education project in Italy to promote educational equity in disadvantaged areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis. (2025). Mobile Futurium \u2013 Research on discourses on the future in rural areas as part of the model project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

United Nations in South Africa. (2026, January 29). Digitisation: Sustaining livelihoods in an increasingly digital world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While infrastructure gaps are being addressed, disparities in digital literacy, affordability, and cultural acceptance persist. 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