DeepMind researchers in London are moving to unionize, largely protesting their AI models being adapted for defense and surveillance contracts.

As developers, do you care what a client does with your code or algorithms once the handoff is complete, or should tech workers maintain a collective say in how their software is deployed?

Hey guys,
Final-year Computer Science degree student here looking for an internship placement in Kuching starting this September.
I’m looking for something a bit specific, I really lean towards hardware, embedded systems, networking, and hands-on coding/AI. Not a big fan of web development or frontend stuff, so I'm trying to find places where software meets actual hardware.
I’ve already shot my shot at these places:
• Sacofa
• Xfab
• Sarawak Semiconductor (rejected)
• Sarawak AI Centre
• RA Robotics and Automation (Side note: anyone have an active phone number for HR here? Only managed to reach them via sales team email ).
Looking for some help with:

1. Other Company Recommendations: Are there any tech, automation, or engineering firms in Kuching I might have missed that do this kind of work?
2. Tips : If you’ve interned or worked at Xfab, SMD, or Sacofa, what’s the vibe like? Any tips on how to stand out during the interview?

Appreciate any leads or advice you guys can drop. Thanks!

The TEGAS Pre-Accelerator Bootcamp (TPAB) 2026 is designed to support aspiring entrepreneurs, startup founders, innovators, and individuals at the ideation stage in transforming innovative ideas into viable, market-ready ventures.

Through a structured combination of hands-on workshops, mentorship sessions, and practical learning experiences, participants will gain the essential tools, insights, and frameworks required to validate business ideas, strengthen business models, and build sustainable ventures.

 6 – 11 July 2026

 TEGAS Digital Village, Kuching

 Registration link

Whether you are developing a new idea, beginning your entrepreneurial journey, or seeking to level up your business, TPAB 2026 provides a valuable platform to accelerate growth and enhance entrepreneurial capabilities.

https://preview.redd.it/ix2o97qekd2h1.png?width=741&format=png&auto=webp&s=964aaf58a0916dacc4525f346ec809f4ddad6ecf

#InnovateSarawak #DigitalInnovation4All #BorneoTech

The NextGenBiz program has officially kicked off at the TEGAS Digital Village, aiming to turn university students from UNIMAS, Swinburne, Curtin, and UTS into the next wave of Sarawakian tech founders.

The Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED) just launched the NextGenBiz initiative. This isn't just another seminar; it’s a strategic pipeline designed to inspire and equip students from both Public (IPTA) and Private (IPTS) institutions with the "entrepreneurial DNA" needed for the digital economy.

Key Highlights for the Community:

• Targeted Growth: The program focuses on students with high-potential tech ideas, moving them from "concept" to "market-ready."
• The TEGAS Connection: Participants get direct access to the TEGAS Digital Village ecosystem, which means mentorship, networking with actual VCs, and a path toward the Digital Village Accelerator (DiVA).
• Policy Support: Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan emphasized that this is part of the broader PCDS 2030 goal to make Sarawak a high-income, tech-driven state.

The "Tech" Angle: For the devs and engineers in this sub: we often complain about a "talent gap." Programs like NextGenBiz are where we should be looking to find co-founders or early-stage team members.

If you're a student, this is your green light to stop just "building for grades" and start building for the region.

• Read the Full Story: NextGenBiz Inspires Student Entrepreneurs

Every time someone wants to start a franchise in Borneo, it's a bubble tea shop or a fried chicken joint. Why aren't we seeing the franchise model applied to tech-driven service sectors locally?

Think about specialized STEM/Robotics academies, managed cybersecurity provider (MSSP) branches, or automated digital marketing hubs. You package the proprietary software, the operational playbook, and the training modules, then let local operators deploy them in secondary towns.

Does a service-based tech franchise model have legs in the current Sarawak/Sabah digital economy?

With Minister Julaihi Narawi confirming that the government, SEB, and Gentari are pushing forward with EV chargers along the Pan Borneo and Coastal routes, I’m curious to get some perspective from actual EV drivers in the sub.

Right now, most EVs here are confined to city driving in Kuching, Sibu, or Miri. If we actually get reliable fast chargers every 100–150km along the highway:

1. Would you actually risk driving your EV from Kuching to Miri?
2. What are your biggest concerns? (Maintenance of chargers, payment apps failing due to poor rural telco coverage, or battery degradation in our heat?)

Let’s talk!

Scenario: "1 HoldCo + 3 Subs" structure for better risk segregation and tax planning. I want a reality check from anyone running this setup here in Malaysia.

The Plan:

• HoldCo: Owns the IP and receives dividends.
• Subs: Each handles a different high-risk/high-growth operation.

Would love to hear from those who have scaled this way, was it worth the headache?

Update: it's Malaysian "1 HoldCo + 3 Subs"

If you're starting from zero today, a basic cert doesn't cut it anymore. Between AI-driven troubleshooting and the decline of traditional desk jobs, the "entry-level" bar has moved.

My 2026 "Fast-Track" stack:

1. The Foundations: CompTIA A+ or Google Support Cert (for the HR filter).
2. The Edge: Learning to parse logs and automate scripts with LLMs.
3. The Lab: A documented home project (VLANs/Home Server).

Technicians: If you were hiring a junior today, what’s the one skill you’d demand they have on Day 1?

The global value chain wants Borneo’s sustainability and biodiversity.

Using tech to provide "Proof of Origin" or "Ethical Sourcing" for local products. How can blockchain or IoT give our local producers an edge in the ASEAN, EU or US markets?

Hi Everyone!

We often talk about the talent coming out of Borneo, and today I want to highlight a local project that’s tackling the "Wild West" of the gig economy. One of our own, u/hamkas, has launched GigHala, a freelance marketplace specifically designed for the Malaysian landscape.

While global platforms like Upwork and Fiverr are great, they often leave Malaysian freelancers dealing with high forex fees, zero social protection, and payment disputes that are hard to resolve from 10,000 miles away.

Why GigHala is different:

• SOCSO (PERKESO) Integration: Finally, a platform that actually addresses the social safety net. They’ve integrated SOCSO protection to ensure gig workers have some security.
• Syariah-Principled & Ethical: It uses PayHalal for secure, transparent transactions and ensures that the work listed stays within ethical/halal boundaries.
• Built for Local Wallets: No more waiting weeks for USD conversions. It supports direct payouts to Malaysian banks and Touch 'n Go eWallet.
• Escrow Protection: Your payment is held securely and only released when the work is done, protecting both the freelancer and the client.

Why we should support it:

As members of r/BorneoTech, we know how hard it is to build tech in our region. GigHala isn't just "another website"; it’s an attempt to professionalize the local freelance economy and keep our digital talent within a protected ecosystem.

Whether you are a developer, designer, writer, or a business owner looking for local talent, let’s show some support for a Sarawakian led initiative.

Check it out and sign up here: gighala

Let’s help grow our own! Support local, hire local. 🛡️💻

Disclaimer: I’m sharing this because I believe in highlighting Sarawakian founders and local tech solutions. Let’s discuss in the comments what features would you like to see to make this even better for Borneo-based freelancers?

Premier Abang Johari confirmed that Sarawak is shifting away from traditional economic models toward a high-tech future. With a focus on Aerospace, Drone Ops, and AI, the state is aiming for a technology-driven workforce by 2030. Foreign interest (especially from Germany) in our semiconductor and green energy sectors is at an all-time high.

Read More: Sarawak Gears Up for New Economic Era

Could be:

- an app

- startup

- AI tool

- automation

- website

- homelab

- SaaS

- side hustle

- freelance project

- game

- Discord/WhatsApp/Telegram bot

- anything tech-related

Doesn’t matter if it’s unfinished, ugly, experimental, or still at idea stage.

Drop:

- what you’re building

- what stack/tools you’re using

- biggest challenge so far

- screenshots or links if you want

Would love to see more builders from Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei, and Kalimantan sharing their projects here.

By now, the DEFA should be harmonizing digital trade across Southeast Asia. In theory, this means a startup in Borneo should have the same digital market access to Jakarta or Bangkok as a local firm.

Are we seeing the red tape disappear? Has it become easier for you to sell digital services across the border this year, or is the "paperless trade" still stuck in a loop of regional bureaucracy?