PEKAN, Jan 23 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today launched the pioneer project, Smart Community Infrastructure System (iComm), in Kampung Padang Rumbia to raise the standard of living and security of the people, especially in the rural areas.
He said the project, the first of its kind in this region, would be extended to the whole country later to ensure that the rural community joined the urban dwellers in enjoying the boom in the information and communication technology (ICT).
The system, which is equipped with a closed circuit television (CCTV) network, river water level monitoring equipment and Internet-based mobile communication system platform could also monitor the national boundary from any threat of infiltration.
“We can install the iComm system in East Sabah such as in Lahad Datu, Semporna, and Sandakan. Through the CCTV installed, we can trace the presence of any foreign elements trying to infiltrate into the country.
“This system brings much benefits directly not only to the people but also the government,” he said when officiating the iComm in Kampung Padang Rumbia, here today.
The event was also attended by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, Mimos Berhad chief executive officer and president Datuk Abdul Wahab Abdullah and State Assemblyman Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Ariff.
The project is an initiative under the social innovation programme of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations (Mosti) developed through its research and development agency, Mimos Sdn Bhd, to upgrade the communication system of the local community.
Najib said the Padang Rumbia residents should be proud because the system had been introduced in the village and they could access the Internet free of charge as well as making free telephone calls.
“The village is also equipped with 10 CCTV sets which enable everything that occurs in the village to be monitored besides being equipped with a sophisticated flood warning system. The project enables the people of Padang Rumbia to enjoy life that is different from the past,” he said.
The scenario also clearly reflected that the need for development in the rural areas was now different compared to the time when his late father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein was the prime minister.
“If we recall the era of the late Tun Razak’s leadership, we can imagine that the type of rural development was very different at that time because then we wanted basic amenities such as power supply, water, roads, community halls and cattle projects.
“Now the time has passed, the country has developed far ahead, the world development in the fields of science and technology has opened up a new era known as the era of information and K-economy.
“Its development is based on knowledge, science and technology and becomes the thrust to the development of a nation, and the government will ensure that no part of the country is left out in this matter,” he said.
At the same time, Najib also hoped that the people could appreciate the facilities provided by the government by not abusing them for activities which did not bring any benefit.
He said the people should also be smart in evaluating any information or story in the Internet because although some of them were true, most of them were merely fictitious and slanderous in nature. — Bernama
