BUKIT Mertajam (BM), with an area of about 12km by 18km, is set to be transformed into a digital city, known as BM Digital Initiative.
The initiative is solely to be planned, studied, undertaken and funded by technology partner Smartviro Sdn Bhd, the master developer for this project.
“Smartviro is a subsidiary of YES Online Sdn Bhd, which is also a master developer of OSC Online system used by 103 local authorities in Malaysia since 2010,” state executive councillor in charge of Women & Family Development, Gender Inclusiveness and Religions Other Than Islam, Chong Eng told a press conference at Komtar today.
“BM is growing rapidly into an urbanised area with a population of more than 212,300 residents amidst the shift to the commercial and light industrial-based economy. This has led to profound social and economic changes there.
“Smart city/digital city concept is to integrate the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) with various smart devices to collect and monitor the city environment, operations and services.
“This is in-line with Cities 4.0 launched by our prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad last year.”
Also present were Smartviro Sdn Bhd director Datuk Lee Aik Heng and its project manager Adwin Chew.
Chong Eng said she was happy and appreciative of the initiative by Smartviro, a local Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) awards winning developer, to establish a smart city model as part of the state government’s commitment to digital revolution as contained in Penang2030: A Family-focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation.
“It is indeed an honour that BM has been identified as a testing ground to earmark the Digital City implementation that can serve as a role model that hopefully can be deployed to other parts of Penang and out of Penang in the near future,” Chong Eng said.
“The main objective is to provide a better quality of life with the latest technologies and the ability to transport people, services and goods at an efficient rate.
“Together, let us gear towards transforming BM into a smarter and sustainable, liveable and prosperous urban area with the modern digital technologies in place.”
Lee said some 20 locations in the vicinity of Bukit Mertajam have been earmarked for the implementation of the project, involving funding of about RM500,000.
“The project is scheduled for completion in August 2020,” Lee added.
Story by Danny Ooi
Pix by Law Suun Ting