Johor's transition into a smart city is moving from theory to reality as advanced technology is integrated into street corners, traffic junctions and municipal control rooms.
State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said smart closed-circuit television (CCTV) feeds allow municipal councils to act immediately through real-time visibility of security, traffic, accidents and fires.
"It ensures local authorities can make informed decisions instantly and deploy resources accurately to resolve incidents on the ground," he told the New Straits Times today.
Yesterday, Jafni visited the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) command centre (IPCC), which he described as the nerve centre of a modern city.
"The IPCC is more than a control room; it is a command hub that allows for faster decisions, coordinated action and immediate response through integrated technology and inter-agency cooperation," he said.
Jafni said the IPCC is a key component of the Johor Selamat and Johor Smart City agenda, where urban management is driven by data and prevention rather than reaction.
Johor Selamat is the state's integrated safety initiative aimed at strengthening crime prevention and public security through technology-driven monitoring and coordinated enforcement.
As part of the initiative, 500 additional smart CCTV units will begin phased operations by the end of the first quarter of 2026, with MBIP coverage eventually expanding to 2,000 units.
Jafni said future housing and development projects are encouraged to install CCTV systems. Gated communities and high-rise projects are also urged to link their surveillance systems directly to municipal command centres.
"This allows safety issues to be detected earlier and responses to be coordinated more effectively with enforcement agencies, including the police," he said, noting that several accidents have already been resolved faster through smart monitoring.
Beyond fixed surveillance, MBIP has acquired high-capacity drones and begun training staff for aerial monitoring. This includes oversight of construction sites and ensuring developers do not breach planning guidelines.
Jafni said the drones' aerial coverage will also be used to ensure developers comply with development guidelines and approved planning permissions.
At the Greater Johor Baru level, Jafni said four local authorities, the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), MBIP, Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) and Kulai Municipal Council (MPKU), were now aligned under a shared smart surveillance framework.
Greater Johor Baru refers to the integrated metropolitan region centred on the state capital, bringing together the four local authorities under coordinated planning for transport, infrastructure and smart city management.
Jafni said MBJB's command centre, the Johor Baru Integrated Operations and Command Centre (JBIOCC), is already operational with 1,000 smart CCTV units.
MBPG began operating AI-powered smart CCTV last year and currently has 340 units, with plans to scale up to 500.
MPKU has completed the installation of 202 units, rolled out in phases between 2024 and 2025.
Jafni said the Johor government will continue to support technology-driven initiatives that prioritise public safety and urban resilience.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Jassmine Shadiqe
Dieser Artikel ist neu veröffentlicht von / This article is republished from: New Straits Times, 13.01.2026
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