JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 7 ― The Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Smart City Consortium of Hong Kong (SCCHK) as a preparatory step in transforming Iskandar Malaysia into a smart city.
IRDA Chief Executive Officer Datuk Ismail Ibrahim said the MoU was in line with Iskandar Malaysia’s Intelligent Urban Framework, namely the Internet of Things (IoT) and urban development, comprising improvements, modern infrastructure construction, and quality and operating standards and maintenance upgrading.
“IRDA will continue to ensure that the economic corridor development is strategically carried out to ensure that Iskandar Malaysia transformation into a smart city can be achieved in accordance with the Second Iskandar Malaysia’s Comprehensive Development Plan (CDPii).
“This MoU will further strengthen the Iskandar Malaysia Intelligent Urban Framework and we welcome anybody who wants to work with IRDA to turn the Iskandar Malaysia development area into a smart, sustainable, stable and sustainable international metropolis city,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after the launch of the Futuristic Iskandar Malaysia Advisory Council (FIMAC) and its website at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) here today.
Present were FIMAC Co-Chairman Prof Amran Hamzah, SCCHK Board Member cum Chairman of Research and Framework Committee Daniel Chun and IRDA Senior Vice-President Urban Observatory Khaidzir A Rasip.
Ismail said the MoU would enable SCCHK to link Malaysia with innovative businesses and smart city projects in international markets.
“It will also enable new economy start-ups to cooperate in smart city platforms and markets in both countries, as well as promote Hong Kong as an independent market hub for finance and match international and international smart city projects between Malaysia and Hong Kong.
“We will also be able to nurture talents and entrepreneurs, who can support the development of smart cities, as well as bring smart city technology into the Iskandar Region development,” he said.
The setting up of FIMAC is aimed at linking all relevant stakeholders on futuristic initiatives within Iskandar Malaysia, he said, adding that, FIMAC consists of government agencies, professionals, academics, technology service providers, including economic sector investors in Iskandar Malaysia.
“The first FIMAC meeting was held in November last year, followed by a quarterly meeting which now has enlisted over 70 organisations compared with 30 during its inception,” he said.
Ismail said FIMAC was also intended to become a platform for relevant parties to share and exchange ideas and insights that would shape the future of Iskandar Malaysia in the context of innovation and technology. ― Bernama
