SGMILD 2025 spotlights role of media literacy in the age of AI

SGMILD 2025 officially launched yesterday.

KUCHING, 30 October 2025: The Sarawak Global Media and Information Literacy Dialogue 2025 (SGMILD 2025) was held yesterday at Sarawak State Library as part of the Global Media and Information Literacy Week, which is commemorated every year on October 24 to 31, 2025.

Organised by the Sarawak State Library in collaboration with the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO (MNCU) and UiTM, the event spotlights the critical role of media and information literacy (MIL) in empowering individuals to think critically and engage meaningful in a world shaped by Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

The dialogue brought together over 3,000 participants across physical and online platforms, including librarians, educators, civil society leaders, policymakers and youth for a day of panel discussions, and speaker sessions under the theme ‘Minds over AI – Media Information Literacy (MIL) in Digital Spaces’.

SGMILD 2025 brings together over 3,000 participants across physical and online platforms.

The official launching of the Dialogue was officiated by the Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak, Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, who was represented by the Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak, Datuk Dr. Annuar bin Rapaee. 

“This Dialogue strengthens the state government’s commitment to bridging the urban-rural divide by providing a platform to promote critical engagement with AI-driven ecosystems, empower youths, safeguard indigenous knowledge and cultural diversity, reinforce the role of libraries, museums and archives and chart a roadmap towards making Sarawak a UNESCO Media and Information Literacy City,” said the Minister in his speech, read by Datuk Dr. Annuar bin Rapaee. 

Datuk Dr. Annuar bin Rapaee representing Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn.

“We hope to leave this Dialogue with not only ideas, but also actionable commitments. We must always remember that technology is meant to serve humanity, not the other way around. I trust that the discussions today will inspire bold solutions, foster stronger partnerships and chart a clear path towards a digitally inclusive and ethically grounded Sarawak,” continued Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn.

“As libraries, archives and museums, we carry a profound responsibility. In this age of information overload, society looks to us as beacons of trust and credibility. With the right strategies and technologies, we can curate reliable knowledge, support fact-checking and empower communities to navigate AI ethically,” shared the CEO of Sarawak State Library, Tuan Haji Japri Bujang Masli, who joined the launching virtually via Zoom. 

Also present at yesterday’s launching, Director of UNESCO Regional Office to Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Timor-Leste and ASEAN Liaison, Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa, Secretary-General of the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO, Fadzilah Fadzil, Lecturer at UiTM School of Information Science, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shamila Shuhidan, Deputy CEO (Services) of Sarawak State Library, Hajah Salina Haji Zawawi as well as speakers and panelists from all over Sarawak as well as Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, including BorneoTalk’s own Ashley Pan as moderator for the panel discussion on Empowering Youth as AI-Aware Digital Citizens. 

First panel of the day, with BorneoTalk’s own Ashley Pan as moderator.