
Gobind lauds how AI transforms KL into smart city with traffic control, ‘digital twin', and urban safety tools
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, during his visit to the Kuala Lumpur Command and Control Centre (KLCCC) today, praised the capital's strides in adopting artificial intelligence to enhance public services, improve safety, and raise overall quality of life.
'AI is helping modernise the city's infrastructure and services. It's not just about efficiency, it's about making KL a safer, more pleasant, and sustainable place to live,' Gobind said.
The visit to KLCCC was part of the ministry's nationwide initiative to promote emerging technologies such as AI and 5G. Gobind was briefed on several AI-powered use cases already integrated into DBKL's operations, including traffic monitoring, city planning, and public safety.
One of the key initiatives was DBKL's development of a comprehensive 'digital twin' of the city. This virtual replica enables real-time simulation and analysis of urban dynamics, supporting more effective planning, emergency response and resource management.
Another key application is the city's AI-powered traffic management system, which leverages live camera feeds and intelligent analytics to monitor road conditions, detect accidents or illegal parking, and optimise traffic signal timing at congested intersections.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo (left) and KL Mayor Datuk Seri TPr, Maimunah Mohd Sharif during their visit to the Kuala Lumpur Command and Control Centre (KLCCC) in Bukit Jalil on July 22,2025. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
These tools, Gobind said, represent how AI can deliver immediate and practical benefits to urban governance.
'AI and digital solutions should always serve people. Our goal is to build a city that is not only smarter, but also inclusive and responsive to everyone's needs,' she said.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif also emphasised that while digital tools are crucial, the human element must remain central.
Maimunah noted that the city's AI applications are already showing results easing traffic congestion, strengthening emergency response, and creating a more liveable urban experience.
'What is important for us is to see how we can bring together the existing powers in each state and with the desire to build a national smart nation centre. As I mentioned earlier, we are looking at a strategy for a smart nation in 2030.
'This means that we can bring together all the existing data and also see what technology is needed in the future and ensure that we are ready, not only in each state as it is now, but also in the whole of Malaysia,' said Maimunah.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Malay Mail
14 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Electricity tariffs to be reviewed monthly under new fuel adjustment system, says Fadillah
KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — The Automatic Fuel Adjustment (AFA), the new adjustment mechanism for electricity tariffs in Peninsular Malaysia, is aimed at ensuring tariff reviews are more transparent and in line with the global fuel market reality, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. Fadillah, who is also the energy transition and water transformation minister, said that through this new mechanism, electricity tariffs will be adjusted monthly compared to only every six months under the Imbalance Cost Pass-Through (ICPT) system. 'For domestic users consuming below 600 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month, they are exempted from the AFA, while those consuming more than 600 kWh will be charged for the energy resources, whether gas or coal. 'For August, due to the drop in fuel costs from Aug 1 to 31, a rebate of 1.545 sen per kWh will be given for the power supply. (The review) is done monthly -- no longer every six months -- which means it is more accurate and transparent based on real-time,' he said during the Minister's Question Time session in the Dewan Rakyat today. He was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Abdul Khalib Abdullah (PN-Rompin) who asked whether the government plans to consider a more flexible and transparent tariff review in the future. Fadillah said the latest tariff review also involves a change in approach from customer categorisation based on economic sectors to by voltage usage. Therefore, he said, the government encourages those who consume higher amounts of energy to switch to renewable energy, including through solar photovoltaic installation, aimed at helping them save costs and reduce overall energy consumption. Answering Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari's (PH-Sungai Petani) query regarding the objectives of the new electricity tariff schedule in achieving the energy transition agenda and long-term sustainability, Fadillah said it is an improvement to the previous structure based on four main principles. These include transparent tariff setting, tariff structure that reflects actual supply costs, fair and equitable cost distribution to all consumers, and minimal impact on domestic users in terms of bill variance. 'This new structure includes energy charges, capacity charges, network charges, and retail charges for each user category compared to the old structure which only had energy charge and minimum charge components. 'In this regard, the new structure is more transparent and exposes users to the costs that must be paid to obtain electricity supply,' he said. On June 20, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, through the Energy Commission, announced a revised electricity tariff schedule for Peninsular Malaysia effective from July 1, 2025. — Bernama


Malay Mail
14 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Land-scarce Penang eyes floating solar projects at dams, sea to boost renewable energy
GEORGE TOWN, July 29 — The Penang state government is considering the installation of floating solar projects at strategic locations such as dams and at sea as a key step towards strengthening its renewable energy (RE) sources, said Zairil Khir Johari. The state Infrastructure, Transport, and Digital Committee chairman said that due to Penang's limited and high-value land, installing solar panels on water bodies could be a more practical alternative. 'Floating solar is a real possibility for Penang because we are surrounded by water,' Zairil said after officiating the MPSEA Solar Roadshow here today. 'Some of the areas identified to install floating solar panels include the Teluk Bahang Dam, Mengkuang Dam, and the sea near Penang Port.' He noted, however, that there are challenges and considerations, such as the impact of the state's water supply and tidal movement. Zairil noted that this technology is already implemented in some countries, and is being considered as an alternative energy source to support new developments, particularly on Silicon Island. He said factories are expected to begin operations on the island's first phase, a technology park, within two years and will require energy from renewable sources. Building large-scale solar farms on the island itself is unlikely, he added, as the land has already been allocated for infrastructure, the tech park, and commercial and residential use. Zairil also clarified the regulatory process for solar energy generation, saying that any party wishing to sell solar energy to the national grid must obtain approval from the Energy Commission and participate in specified schemes. 'If it is only for own use, such as the plan suggested by the Penang Port authority, the process is faster and easier,' he said. In a related development, Zairil said the Penang state government is targeting 10 per cent RE usage and 25 per cent energy efficiency (EE) by 2030, guided by the Penang Energy Framework introduced last year. The framework mandates the installation of renewable energy systems for all new non-residential buildings and requires the collection of energy intensity data for all buildings in the state. 'The state government will also expand the implementation of this energy framework to the industrial and transportation sectors to curb carbon emissions,' he added.

Malay Mail
44 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Household debt at 84.3pc of GDP, but Malaysians still have a strong buffer, says Finance Ministry
KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — Malaysia's household debt stood at RM1.65 trillion as of the end of March 2025, equivalent to 84.3 per cent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP). However, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying highlighted that the value of household financial assets exceeds the total debt, indicating that the public's overall financial position remains strong. 'Household debt should be viewed alongside household financial assets, which are significantly larger. 'On aggregate, household financial assets continue to exceed debt by 2.1 times, providing a solid buffer for households,' she told the Dewan Rakyat today. Lim was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang), who inquired about the debt-to-GDP ratio. She said that regarding household debt, the government and Bank Negara Malaysia are always committed to assisting credit users who face financial difficulties. In response to the original question posed by Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah (BN-Paya Besar), who asked whether the government has regulatory plans for credit services to ensure stronger consumer protection, Lim said that loans approved by financial institutions are subject to the Policy Document on Responsible Financing. This document was issued by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and has been in effect since 2012. Lim explained that through the implementation of this policy document, the debt service ratio (DSR) for households remains within prudent levels, with the median DSR for outstanding loans at 34 per cent, while the median DSR for newly approved loans is 41 per cent in 2024. 'The DSR maintained within these prudent levels serves as an adequate buffer for households to meet their debt obligations,' she said. Meanwhile, Lim said that the Credit Counselling and Management Agency (AKPK) also provides advisory services and assistance in financial management and loan restructuring. The deputy minister added that AKPK has successfully helped more than 64,000 borrowers fully settle their loans through its Debt Management Programme, while nearly 270,000 participants remain actively engaged in their financial recovery journeys under this programme. — Bernama