Sabah Must Keep Pace With AI, Paperless Administration To Stay Progressive

By Fadzli Ramli

KOTA KINABALU, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Sabah must keep pace with the developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and paperless administration to remain progressive and competitive with other states in today’s digital era, said Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) senior lecturer Azizan Morshidi.

He said by mastering AI, Sabah holds a significant potential to drive its economic and social transformation, reflecting the state’s role as part of the national ecosystem.

According to him, AI adoption could enhance the healthcare sector through diagnostic support systems for rural hospitals, while in agriculture, weather forecasting technology and soil analysis could help increase padi and palm oil yields.

He said that AI-based smart mobility applications could reduce congestion in major cities, while small and medium enterprises (SMEs) could utilise the technology for market analysis and business automation.

“The Sabah state government’s efforts to strengthen this agenda are aligned with the Malaysia MADANI framework, which emphasises sustainability, innovation and compassion,” the social quantitative and qualitative researcher told Bernama.

To ensure inclusivity, Azizan said the state government has implemented AI skills courses at polytechnics, public universities and community training centres for youths, civil servants and the general public, in line with the Malaysia MADANI aspirations.

He said the implementation of paperless administration is not merely a technical move but also a symbol of ethical reform through digital appointment systems, public complaints applications and AI-based administrative dashboards.

“This step not only reduces waste and carbon emissions but also lowers government operating costs, allowing funds to be channelled towards public welfare, including supporting Ikhtiar MADANI programmes and strengthening enforcement agencies,” he said. 

According to him, the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 initiative also emphasises sustainable development through digital technology by strengthening strategic cooperation with the private sector and international partners, including Indonesia, to position Sabah as an innovation hub in Southeast Asia.

“Mastery of AI and paperless administration will make Sabah more efficient, transparent and people-friendly, while building public trust through data protection under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 as well as anti-corruption strategies targeting a top-25 position in the global Corruption Perceptions Index,” he said.

Azizan said through the integration of the state’s digital systems with national platforms, Sabah is expected to be among the earliest states to achieve the federal target of 95 per cent online services by 2030, up from 80 per cent last year.

He said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) Strategic Plan 2026-2030 would also benefit Sabah through improvements in digital data quality, enabling the state government to formulate more responsive, evidence-based education, healthcare and economic policies.

“Sabah is now at a crucial juncture in the history of modern administration and, with the support of the people and the private sector, the state is capable of transforming its narrative into a national success story,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sabah Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk James Ratib said his ministry is formulating strategic measures to empower AI usage in the state, particularly in education, in line with current learning needs and human capital development.

“One of the key initiatives being planned is the One-Staff or One-AI programme aimed at improving AI literacy and usage capabilities among civil servants and the state’s education sector. We will begin within this ministry before expanding to other ministries,” he said.

James said focus is also being placed on developing dedicated AI modules for teacher training institutes to ensure educators are equipped with the latest AI, digital and technological skills.

He said the move aligns with the evolving needs of the education system, including the potential to expand AI modules that complement the Ministry of Education’s textbook syllabus for schools in both urban and rural areas.

Meanwhile, he also stressed the importance of developing offline AI as a strategy to bridge the digital divide, ensuring students and educators in remote areas or locations with limited internet access are not left behind in digital learning.

According to him, plans are also underway to develop multilingual AI platforms, including the use of Sabah’s local languages and dialects, as an inclusive approach that reflects the diverse sociocultural backgrounds of students in the state.

“The state government remains committed to leveraging AI technology in an inclusive, ethical and responsible manner to ensure access to quality, equitable and future-ready education, in line with the Sabah Maju Jaya aspirations,” he added.

-- BERNAMA