By Karen Bong
KUCHING, April 27: The upgrade of the old and malfunctioning closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) in Friendship Park along Jalan Song, which would feature advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology, particularly in quality visual recognition, is expected to be completed by June of this year.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng hopes that cutting-edge technology like car registration and facial recognition will effectively deter and prevent criminal activities such as car and home break-ins and burglary.
His remarks came in response to recent criticisms by certain quarters regarding reports of stolen cars in the area.
“The previous CCTV system was installed a decade ago, and by last year, the majority of them had malfunctioned. Consequently, the Council decided to replace the outdated CCTV system with the latest generation, boasting higher resolution, increased storage, and AI analytics capabilities.
“A proposal was submitted to the Ministry (of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government) to secure funding under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12). This funding was approved in late 2023, and the project was subsequently tendered out around March 2024,” he explained during his ShallWeeTalk Facebook live today.
With the commencement of the CCTV project and the initiation of cabling works in April, Wee urged critics to be more resourceful by channelling their efforts into more constructive avenues, such as seeking funds from the Federal government, rather than merely complaining without taking proactive steps.
Highlighting MBKS’ commitment to security across various areas, Wee mentioned that CCTV installation has been completed in the 3rd Mile, with pending approval for installation in the Padungan area.
“We are dedicated to expanding CCTV coverage to more locations in the future as funding becomes available,” he assured.
Wee expressed sincere regrets to the victims of recent crimes and sought their understanding that the issue has been promptly addressed, with solutions already underway.
“The Council wants to reassure the public that their safety and security remain our top priorities.
“Therefore, we will continue advocating for relevant and innovative solutions to further ensure the peace and security of our residents,” he said. — DayakDaily
