Smart initiatives shape Greater JB

The year 2024 will see the Greater JB agenda take a significant leap forward, bringing streamlined services to residents. The agenda includes various initiatives and strategies to enhance quality of life, attract investments, and position JB as a key economic player.

IN 2024, the Greater Johor Baru (Greater JB) agenda is set to make significant progress in improving residents’ services.

The four local councils – Johor Baru City Council, Iskandar Puteri City Council, Pasir Gudang City Council, and Kulai Municipal Council – are working together to make this vision a reality.

These councils are focused on enhancing community development in the Greater JB area through collaborative efforts and utilising each council’s strengths.

The agenda involves various initiatives and strategies to boost the quality of life, attract investments, and position JB as a key economic player.

Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman said that the city council has adopted digital technology, like the One Stop Centre(OCS) 3.0 app, to make things easier, especially when dealing with applications for planning permission and licences.

“It has the Johor Fast Lane feature that streamlines processes for investors, making it simpler for them to get approvals for planning, building plans, Certificates of Completion and Compliance (CCC), and operating licences.

“They’ve also made licence applications easier with a date-to-date method, helping business owners and the local authorities,” he said.

The council also plans to launch the e-merit system this year that will grade food premises and public and private toilets, allowing the public to easily check how clean these places are, he added.

To spread the idea of Greater JB, the four local councils have teamed up with the Johor Professional Association (DECCO) to create guidelines and policies for the benefit of the local authorities and the industry, he informed.

“MBJB has recently received recognition as a ‘Smart City Early Adopter’ and got a grant of RM200,000 from the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) to start the Smart City project.

“The next step is to make sure that the three other local councils under Greater JB also get recognised for developing smart cities.

“This will benefit almost half of Johor’s population in Greater JB by providing faster and more efficient services using technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and sensors for early warnings during disasters,” he said.

The installation of 2,000 AI-powered closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) throughout the Greater JB area has been done in phases starting in 2023, which will make the city safer and boost confidence among investors, he said.

Noorazam also informed that the MBJB launched the Johor Baru Integrated Operations Control Centre (JBIOCC) in December last year to improve city monitoring.

“After three months, JBIOCC has provided 108 AI-equipped CCTV cameras and a Smart Integrated Operations Centre (SIOC) in Phase 1.

“Future plans include adding 500 CCTV cameras, five variable message signs (VMS), and 10 emergency buttons around Johor Baru, which are expected to be fully operational by April this year,” he said.

JBIOCC helps MBJB identify issues like damaged infrastructure and supports enforcement tasks, such as dealing with improper parking, vandalism, and illegal waste disposal.

As for Pasir Gudang City Council, mayor Datuk Asman Shah Abd Rahman shared that the council has set aside RM20mil for the establishment of a brand new crocodile park in Kong Kong.

He added that the park will serve as the main tourism attraction in Pasir Gudang and will be curated by reptile experts from the Singapore Zoo.

Spanning over an area of 8.09ha, the new park will replace the existing 3.23ha Pasir Gudang Estuarine Crocodile Sanctuary in Tanjung Langsat, which was established in 2009.

Asman Shah stated that the project will be carried out in phases for 24 months, with development expected to commence in the first quarter of this year.

“Pasir Gudang has several other major developments planned for this year, including the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Youth Centre (TMIYC) and Dataran Mahkota, situated near the Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium.

“The TMIYC Pasir Gudang is currently 46% complete and is projected to be finished by the end of this year,” he informed.

Asman Shah also revealed that a new MBPG office building in Kong Kong is currently 18% complete and is scheduled to be fully operational by December 2025.

The 15-storey building will feature an office block, a multipurpose hall, and underground parking.

“We are also anticipating the commencement of a thermal waste treatment plant burning system in Tanjung Langsat, which is set to begin this year.

“The technical meeting with the developers will be held early this year, and the project is expected to be completed within 24 to 36 months,” he said.

Meanwhile, he informed that the council is planning to relocate petty traders from their roadside stalls to the Kebayan food court to provide a safer and more suitable environment for them.

“Local councillors have been instructed to meet with the petty traders in their respective areas to determine the most appropriate Kebayan for them to ensure they maintain their customer base after the relocation,” he added.

MBPG also plans to install smart traffic lights at all 33 intersections in the city this year to alleviate traffic congestion besides installing 5,388 solar lights in residential areas and 1,000 LED lights on the protocol road.

“We also hope that the public will support the new assessment tax, as it will enable the city to introduce more development projects,” he said, adding that the assessment tax has not been updated for over a decade.

Meanwhile, Iskandar Puteri City Council, under the leadership of mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad, has outlined a comprehensive plan to improve the city’s infrastructure and promote sustainability.

“As part of the MBIP Strategic Plan 2026, the council aims to install 530 AI-equipped CCTVs throughout the city this year. The CCTVs will be complemented by the introduction of smart traffic lights, lighting systems, and parking facilities,” he said.

All the footage and amenities will be monitored through the council’s Integrated Operation Command Centre, which is connected to the other three local councils under Greater JB, he added.

In addition to these technological advancements, the council has also embraced green energy initiatives by incorporating four electric vehicles into its operations and is planning to rent electric motorcycles this year.

“MBIP also aims to organise more low-carbon programmes as part of the Iskandar Puteri Low Carbon Society Action Plan 2025; the council is offering financial support ranging from RM10,000 to RM30,000 for any green initiative programme conducted by the community.

“We have gradually replaced conventional lights with LED lights for street lights and lighting systems in existing housing projects. Additionally, we plan to enhance road conditions, provide more public amenities, and introduce additional public sports areas.

“Some of the upcoming projects include the Mini Stadium in Medini, Gym Rakyat at the TMIYC Iskandar Puteri, a hawker centre, and two community hubs in Taman Bukit Indah and Taman Impian Emas,” he added.

He also shared that their highlight for this year is the transformation of Kampung Sungai Melayu into an eco-tourism centre.

“The council plans to upgrade the jetty and provide more parking space for visitors. This project is expected to be completed in June, further enhancing the city’s appeal and promoting sustainable tourism,” he said.

As for Kulai Municipal Council (MPKu) president Mohd Fahmi Salam, the inclusion of MPKu into the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JSEZ) is warmly welcomed.

“This development will bring about comprehensive changes to the development landscape in the MPKu area, rather than focusing on just one specific area.

“The economic spillover in the industrial sector will be significant, and efforts are being made to empower other sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and entrepreneurship in collaboration with relevant agencies.

“Given its strategic location and natural resources, these three sectors are expected to be major contributors to the economy in Kulai.

“The recent expansion of Senai International Airport has also enhanced the capacity to support these efforts, with the airport now able to accommodate five million passengers per year compared to the previous four million,” he said.

In addition to the industrial sector, Mohd Fahmi shared that MPKu is also prioritising the development of smart cities and green cities.

“These include the Kulai Fast Lane e-licence initiative, the upgrading of smart traffic lights, the installation of 300 AI-CCTVs over the next five years, the adoption of electric vehicles, solar installations on MPKu premises, and the planning of a smart parking app,” he said.

Mohd Fahmi added that the council will also focus on the well-being of the people, including efforts to mitigate flood-risk areas and improve the road network system in the area.

“The development strategies will be based on the preparation of the MPKu 2035 local plan, which is planned to be finalised by September 2024,” he said.