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Challenges and Opportunities in Introducing Information and Communication Technologies to the Kelabit Community of North Central Borneo

University Malaysia Sarawak

POLINE BALA

University Malaysia Sarawak

PETER SONGAN

University Malaysia Sarawak

ELAINE KHOO GUAT LIEN

University Malaysia Sarawak

TINGANG TRANG

University Malaysia Sarawak

This article describes an action-research pilot project to provide opportunities for the remote Kelabit community in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, to use information and communication technologies (ICTs) for sustainable human development. The project aims to establish a telecentre as a place for the community to use ICTs. Although many in the community have heard about computers, they have not seen or used them. In Phase 1 of this project, a team of University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) researchers were involved in the collection of base-line data to provide a socio-economic profile of the community, to establish existing patterns of communication and computer awareness and finally to determine the current attitudes towards computers in Bario's secondary school (SMK Bario). Findings indicate that due to Bario's relative isolation, community members cited their relatives to be the main source of information and face-to-face communication as the major channel of communication, and that a majority of school teachers had a positive attitude towards using ICTs. Recommendations for future directions in promoting the utilization of ICTs to lead to the establishment of a telecentre are discussed.

Key Words: attitude towards computer • information and communication technology • Kelabits • rural communities • rural development • telecentre

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