By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 5: The Kuching Smart City Masterplan (KSCMP) will be rolled out first in Darul Hana and gradually expanded to other areas in Kuching such as Padawan and Samarahan.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the masterplan will establish connectivity and provide better services for citizens through the development of a smart city digital infrastructure platform and essential shared smart city applications.
“We are going to start (with) Darul Hana with all this connectivity and then we may expand it to other parts including Padawan as well as Samarahan.
“Once our Autonomous Rail Transit (ART) starts, it will be connected with our smart platform and then all the areas will be integrated in the future. Once it is there, investment will come into the State,” he said during the launching of the KSCMP at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.
He noted that Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) as the implementing agency of KSCMP, had carried out much engagement with locals to identify the issues facing Kuching and suggestions to transform Kuching into a smart city.
Following that, a total of 38 actionable smart city initiatives within five focus areas—economic growth, smart living, clean environment, digital government and digital infrastructure—were identified and strategised for, with implementation scheduled from 2021 until 2025.
Abang Johari also disclosed that the masterplan will enable Kuching to connect to other cities such as Miri via the same platform, pointing out that convergence of data will occur between the cities.
Citing S PAY Global (formerly known as Sarawak Pay) as an example, he explained that the platform can be used together with Union Pay where the convergence of data will enable transactions to be performed all over the world.
“If you spend your money in Singapore and you use Union Pay, there’s already convergence between Union Pay and Sarawak Pay so they make use of your Sarawak Pay account to settle whatever transaction that you have. In other words, as long as Sarawak Pay Global is there in Singapore, you make use of it. You don’t have to bring a lot of money,” he elaborated.
The KSCMP was developed in line with the Sarawak Economic Action Council (SEAC) initiatives and the State’s 12th Malaysia Plan objectives.
Its implementation will be a collaboration among SMA, Sarawak Digital Economic Corporation (SEDC), relevant government agencies as well as the private sector. – DayakDaily
