The excellence of Sarawak’s Department of Land and Surveying (JTS) has once again captured international attention. At the 25th edition of the Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) 2026, held at the World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur from April 9 to 11, the department secured one gold medal and one silver medal under the International Innovation Award (IIM) category.
This achievement not only reinforces Sarawak’s reputation as a leader in global public sector innovation but also stands out within the highly competitive environment of MTE 2026. This year’s expo served as a key catalyst for sustainable development and regional digitalization agendas, extending beyond merely being a technology exhibition platform.
MTE 2026 brought together more than 650 exhibitors from over 30 countries across government, academic, and industrial sectors. Under the theme “Accelerating Sustainable Innovation for Global Impact,” the event emphasized technology’s role in addressing critical issues such as climate change, food security, and disaster preparedness.
Among the main objectives of organizing this expo were technology matching and commercialization, targeting the generation of business transaction values and investment potential exceeding RM450 million through business matching sessions between local innovators and international investors. Additionally, the expo served as a bridge between universities and industry to translate laboratory research into market-ready products, while encouraging government agencies to benchmark public service efficiency at the Asian level through special categories such as Public Service Innovation Asia (PSIA).
Participation in MTE 2026 was distributed as follows: 45% from the private sector and industry, including technology companies, small and medium enterprises, and startups; 35% from academic institutions and schools; and the remaining 20% from government agencies and statutory bodies.
Although the percentage of government agency participation was smaller compared to the private sector, the strategic significance of public sector involvement in MTE is profound. The presence of departments such as JTS Sarawak, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, and the Forestry Department demonstrates that government agencies are no longer lagging in the Industry 4.0 revolution. This shifts the bureaucratic stigma by showing a transition from traditional administrative mindsets to co-creating value with the people.
Furthermore, when innovations such as COMMANDS or Poletervation are recognized by international professional judges, it provides legitimacy and confidence for state policymakers to continue investing in public sector digitalization. It also delivers high social-impact solutions targeting efficiency in delivering essential services such as land, water, and healthcare, aspects that directly affect public well-being.
In the International Innovation Award (IIM) category, JTS’s gold medal was awarded for the COMMANDS (Comprehensive Monitoring and Managing Dashboard for Survey) innovation by the Sassoku Tech Group from JTS Kuching. This is an integrated system that utilizes real-time big data analytics to empower land surveying work monitoring.
Meanwhile, the Poletervation innovation by the Bistari Tech Group from JTS Samarahan secured the IIM silver medal. More impressively, Poletervation also captured attention by receiving The Best Award in the Machinery, Equipment and Tools and Manufacturing Process category, winning a Gold Award under the separate Public Service Innovation Asia (PSIA) category, and receiving special recognition from the International Alliance of Innovation and Invention Association.
COMMANDS, in the PSIA category, successfully earned a silver medal as well as a special award from the Chinese Innovation and Invention Society.
JTS’s success at MTE 2026 is not merely about collecting medals; it carries significant implications for the direction of Sarawak’s land administration and the state’s overall image.
This victory demonstrates that JTS is moving in tandem with the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which emphasizes government service digitalization. By integrating survey data into a single smart dashboard through COMMANDS, JTS addresses long-standing issues of delays and data silos that often slow down land approval processes for investment, thereby supporting Sarawak’s ambition to become a digital economy and green energy hub in the region.
The Poletervation innovation, which enhances the efficiency and accuracy of fieldwork, ensures the integrity of cadastral data. Consequently, the private sector seeking to invest in Sarawak particularly in large infrastructure projects, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), and sustainable agriculture that requires certainty regarding land status and survey accuracy. This international recognition sends a clear signal to global investors that land transactions in Sarawak are transparent, modern, and trustworthy.
JTS Sarawak now serves as a role model for other technical departments in Malaysia. Success in winning awards in the machinery and equipment category proves that government officers are not merely technology users but solution creators. This fosters a culture of critical thinking among civil servants to solve unique field challenges that cannot be addressed by off-the-shelf external technologies.
In his appreciation speech, the Director of Land and Surveying Sarawak described this achievement as a manifestation of the department’s continuous commitment to cultivating innovation as the core of organizational excellence. He emphasized that this international-level success not only brings honour to Sarawak’s name but also reflects the department’s readiness to embrace digital transformation in line with PCDS 2030 aspirations. It further proves that state public agencies are capable of competing and creating world-class solutions.
Therefore, JTS’s participation and success at the MTE 2026 stage demonstrates the capability of state public agencies to compete globally, while reinforcing the role of innovation as a key driver for delivering more efficient, high-impact, and people-oriented services.
Source: Public Relations Unit, Department of Land and Surveying Sarawak
