By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, Sept 9: SACOFA Sdn Bhd and Imasa Dinasti Sdn Bhd, the master developer of Kenyalang Smart City, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore strategic collaboration in developing telecommunications and digital connectivity infrastructure for the integrated smart city development in Miri.
According to a media release, the MoU provides a framework for both parties to explore a long-term partnership to equip Kenyalang Smart City with resilient, high-capacity and future-ready connectivity infrastructure.
Kenyalang Smart City is envisioned as an integrated development comprising residential, commercial, healthcare, hospitality, convention and institutional components, with digital and Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies incorporated into its planning and operations.
The development is also intended to support Sarawak’s broader digital transformation agenda, including the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and Sarawak Digital Economy 2030.
Under the MoU, SACOFA and Imasa will explore a range of telecommunications and connectivity solutions, including high-capacity fibre connectivity, 5G infrastructure and coverage, end-to-end fibre architecture, enterprise connectivity, IoT enablement, network redundancy and disaster recovery capabilities.
The collaboration will also examine specialised connectivity requirements for key components of the development, including its medical and teaching hospital, convention centre and smart city management systems.
These digital infrastructure solutions are expected to support applications such as smart mobility, utilities and energy management, security and other IoT-enabled services.
SACOFA chief executive officer Jafer Sadig Abdul Lathiff said the collaboration reflected the company’s commitment to supporting the development of digitally enabled communities and infrastructure across Sarawak.
“As Sarawak continues to accelerate its digital transformation, reliable and future-ready connectivity will be fundamental to the development of smarter and more connected communities.
“Through this collaboration with Imasa, we look forward to exploring SACOFA’s telecommunications infrastructure and connectivity capabilities that can further support the vision for Kenyalang Smart City and its long-term digital requirements,” he said following the MoU signing ceremony held yesterday (Sept 8).
Imasa Dinasti founder and chairman Ar Teo Ah Khing said connectivity was a fundamental component of the development rather than an element to be added after the city’s physical infrastructure was established.
“Kenyalang Smart City is being built on the belief that connectivity is not an afterthought to urban development — it is the foundation of it.
“Every hospital bed, every classroom, every home and business within this development will depend on infrastructure that is fast, resilient and built for decades ahead, not just for today,” he said.
Teo said partnering with SACOFA, which had connected communities across Sarawak, would provide the foundation to design Kenyalang Smart City as an intelligent city from the outset.
“This collaboration marks another step in our commitment to building a development that Sarawak can be proud of, and that positions our beloved Sarawak at the forefront of Malaysia’s digital future,” he said.
As part of the MoU, both parties will establish a Joint Working Committee and undertake a joint technical feasibility study to assess the development’s connectivity and IoT requirements.
The study will form the basis for a phased implementation plan aligned with Kenyalang Smart City’s overall master plan and development timeline.
The collaboration is ultimately aimed at laying the groundwork for a robust digital infrastructure ecosystem capable of supporting the evolving needs of Kenyalang Smart City while contributing to Sarawak’s broader ambitions for a digitally connected and innovation-driven economy. — DayakDaily
