The Kenyalang Smart City (KSC) Summit 2025 has set a new benchmark for Sarawak’s ambition to become a regional leader in AI powered healthcare, biomedical innovation and talent driven industries.
Hosted by Imasa Dinasti Sdn. Bhd., the summit which was held on Sunday (23rd November 2025) at the Old Miri City Council, Jalan Kingsway, brought together top policymakers, global academics and international partners to accelerate a bold new direction for Miri and the state.
Anchored by the theme AI + Healthcare: From Research to Real World Impact, the summit demonstrated that Miri is no longer operating on the periphery of global innovation. It is stepping forward as the nucleus of Sarawak’s next growth chapter.
State Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin underscored this shift, stating that AI is reshaping modern medicine across diagnostics, therapeutics and public health systems. He said Sarawak must convert scientific research into practical solutions that uplift everyday healthcare outcomes. He highlighted ‘THE HALL’ (The Old Miri City Council Building), the Fudan University Joint Research Centre for Innovative Drug Development in Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine and AI Medical Experience Centre, as a testament to this commitment. The centre, driven by Imasa Dinasti in partnership with Fudan University and Curtin Malaysia, showcases the power of integrating data science with traditional and modern medical expertise to develop new breakthroughs.
The summit also saw two major MOUs sealed to strengthen Miri’s AI healthcare ecosystem. The first, involving Imasa Dinasti, Fudan University and Curtin Malaysia, formalises long term cooperation in AI enabled integrative medicine, innovative drug discovery and advanced clinical research. The second, between Curtin Malaysia and Fudan University, expands academic exchanges, joint research and talent development pathways that will supply the skilled workforce needed for Sarawak’s future industries.
Sarawak Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Yang Berhormat Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian stressed the strategic importance of the newly established Fudan Institute of Integrative Medicine Research Development Centre and its AI Medical Research Hub in Miri. He said Sarawak requires over 2,500 doctors and the centre represents the beginning of a stronger regional medical training pipeline. He positioned this development as part of Sarawak’s decisive shift from resource based sectors to high value industries powered by research, innovation and world class expertise.
Imasa Dinasti chairman Ar. Teo Ah Khing called the summit a defining moment for Miri. He said the state’s rapid approval of the KSC blueprint reflects strong political will to propel Miri into a future anchored in AI, integrative medicine and biomedical science. Ar. Teo emphasized that the KSC is not a standalone project. It is a master plan designed to transform Miri into a next generation smart city driven by innovation, new talent and cross border collaboration. He also acknowledged Fudan University’s Prof Dong Jingcheng whose global leadership in integrative medicine has been instrumental in shaping the direction of the research hub.
International momentum was evident through the 14th International Conference on Traditional and Modern Medicine, held in parallel with the summit. Delegates from Malaysia, China, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore attended, reinforcing Miri’s rising influence as a destination for medical knowledge exchange and high impact research. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Malaysia, His Excellency (H.E) Ouyang Yujing noted that AI now anchors Malaysia China cooperation, particularly in biotechnology, digital medicine and drug development where modern and traditional medicine converge. He described the establishment of the Fudan Joint Research Centre in Miri as a milestone that strengthens Sarawak’s strategic position in the region.
The summit was attended by key leaders including Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting, Fudan University’s Prof Dong Jing Cheng and Curtin Malaysia deputy pro vice chancellor Prof Tuong Thuy Vu.
The message from KSC Summit 2025 is clear. Miri is transitioning from its legacy as Malaysia’s oil and gas birthplace into a centre of excellence for AI driven healthcare and biomedical discovery. Through Imasa Dinasti’s leadership and strategic partnerships with global institutions, Sarawak is building a robust ecosystem that nurtures talent, accelerates innovation and positions the state as a future ready powerhouse for smart city development and next generation healthcare.
