Additional RM20m for Kota Belud Smart Community 2.0 initiative

KOTA BELUD: Another RM20 million will be spent by the government to implement the Kota Belud Smart Community 2.0.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said the RM20 million was in addition to the RM70 million already spent by the government and the private sector to implement the Kota Belud Smart Community 1.0 in 2016.
"Following our discussions, the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), district office and private companies will keep enhancing the Kota Belud Smart Community initiative with an additional expenditure of RM20 million.
"This covers certain key programmes such as developing smart safety solution initiatives in collaboration with the Royal Malaysia Police here, upgrading the River Water Level and Safety Monitoring System, and improving communication access in Kota Belud through provision of high-speed broadband for fixed and wireless networks," he said.
Salleh, who is also Usukan assemblyman, said this while launching the Kota Belud Smart Community 2.0 initiative, here today.
Also present were MCMC chairman Tan Sri Dr Halim Shafie, Putrajaya Corporation president Datuk Seri Hasim Ismail, Tempasuk assemblyman Datuk Musbah Jamli, Kadamaian assemblyman Ukoh@ Jeremy Malajad and Kota Belud district officer Abdul Gari Itam.
According to Salleh, a flood relief centre equipped with digital paraphernalia or 'Digital Hall' would be set up and function as a facility to provide Internet access and information and communication technology (ICT) for the public.
"Upgrading of communications infrastructure under the Kota Belud Smart Community 2.0 will also involve a new technology known as 'Wireless To The Home' (WTTx)," he said, adding, WTTx used wireless broadband technology offered a speed of between 20 Mbps and 40 Mbps.
Looking at the success of the Kota Belud Smart Community 1.0 initiative, Salleh noted many significant changes, particularly telecommunications infrastructure in the district, enabling locals to enjoy better 3G and 4G bandwidth.
He said one of Kota Belud's tourist attractions, Pulau Mantanani also had access to 3G cellular broadband making the district among the earliest in Malaysia to get LTE-Advanced coverage.
"Unifi high speed Internet is now accessible to the Kota Belud town community as a result of our collaboration with Telekom Malaysia. As of February this year, 832 ports have been set up for subscription and I urge the public to take advantage of this," said Salleh.
He said six 1Malaysia Internet centres had been set up in Kota Belud by MCMC since the implementation of the initiative to bridge the digital divide in ensuring that the local community was not left behind in the rapid development of technology.
According to him, the initiative also provided opportunities for students and teachers in Kota Belud to learn digital content creation through the Digital School Magazine (e-Magazine) programme.
In fact, Kota Belud's school e-magazine has been chosen as one of the finalists in the 'Access to Information and Knowledge' category for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland on March 19-23, 2018.
"The most important objective of the smart community initiative is taking advantage of the ICT platform to increase productivity and quality of life, in line with the government's aspiration towards a smart nation status and National Transformation 2050.
"With unceasing efforts, Kota Belud will be the first to attain the Smart District status in Sabah, InshaAllah," he added. — Bernama