For the Ministry of Utilities Sarawak, it is its ultimate aspiration to uplift the socio-economic well-being of Sarawakians through the provision of world-class utilities throughout Sarawak – utilities namely water supply, electricity and gas that are deemed accessible, reliable, economical, safe and sustainable.

One of the ways that the Ministry and agencies under its purview are undertaking to achieve this is carrying out and utilising digital solutions to modernise utility management and enhance consumer experience.

“We are in an era whereby nobody does things manually now… (so) as best as possible our network, our system and our facilities must gradually move towards digitalisation,” said the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary YBhg Dato Ir. Alice Jawan Empaling in an interview with RAKAN Sarawak.

“Because when we talk about our facilities, our plants and all that, we also benchmark with facilities from developed countries whereby it is about working smart rather than working hard in a way,” she explained, adding that digitalising their assets is essential so that they are easily reachable and readily available.

The following are two (2) digitalisation initiatives that the Ministry is implementing at present. These initiatives have helped enhance efficiency and service delivery for the Ministry, especially in improving procedures that used to be done manually:

e-MINDS

Established in 2012, the Electrical Inspectorate Unit (EIU) Main Information, Network and Database System or e-MINDS is an online system that enables the application and renewal for electrical competency and other matters concerning electricity supply. These include:

• Application for Certificate of Competency as a Wireman
• Application for Certificate of Competency as a Chargeman
• Application for Certificate of Competency as a Cable Jointer
• Application for Certificate of Competency as an Electrical Supervisor
• Application for Certificate of Competency as a Competent Electrical Engineer
• Application for Certificate of Registration as an Electrical Installation Contractor
• Application for Import Permit
• Application for Certificate of Approval to Manufacture, Import, Display, Sell or Advertise Equipment
• Application for Certificate of Registration as a Switchboard Manufacturer
• Application for Wayleave
• Application for Registration of Electric Fence

Since 2020, certifications approved through e-MINDS are signed digitally. Previously, certificates were needed to be printed out to be signed physically.

e-Utilities System

Launched on 28 January 2021, e-Utilities System is designed to provide online services for application of licences and products related to water supply and gas distribution. According to the Ministry, these modules include:

• Sarawak e-KPI System for Water Supply Services (e-KISS)
• Credit Checking System (CCS) and
• Map Viewer
• Project Monitoring
• Water supply interruption notification
• Under e-Water:
• Application for Mains Layer Licence
• Application for Pipe Fitter Licence
• Water Supply Product Certification
• Under e-Gas:
• Application for Distribution of Gas Licence
• Registration for Certificate of Gas Competency
• Registration for Gas Contractors
• Application for Approval to Install (ATI) Gas Piping System
• Application for Approval to Operate (ATO) Gas Piping System
• Certificate of Approval for Assembler, Manufacturer or Importer of Gas Fittings, Gas Appliances and Gas Equipment
• Certificate of Approval for Gas Fittings, Gas Appliance and Gas Equipment

“With this, we will be able to monitor the performances of our agencies as well as manage the State’s utilities infrastructure development programmes and projects,” said Dato Ir. Alice during the launch of the system at the LCDA Tower, Kuching.