JOHOR BAHRU<\/span> \u2013 In a former multipurpose hall atop the Johor Bahru City Council building, a 12m screen displays live feeds from 555 CCTV cameras monitoring every corner of Malaysia\u2019s southern capital. <\/p>\n The Johor Bahru Integrated Operations Control Centre (JBIOCC) in the city centre <\/sub>uses artificial intelligence (AI) to track traffic flow, detect potholes, and even catch litterbugs in real time \u2013 technology applications that helped JB pip capital city Kuala Lumpur to become Malaysia\u2019s first \u201cleading smart city\u201d on Oct 28.<\/p>\n JB residents can tap into the system through mobile apps and the council\u2019s digital map to get information from traffic conditions and parking availability, to flood warnings and public toilet cleanliness ratings. <\/p>\n \u201cThis command centre helps us in solving three main issues often faced in JB: traffic congestion, security, and city management,\u201d Dr Choo Kok Wah, commander of the JBIOCC, told The Straits Times during a visit on Dec 4. <\/p>\n Dr Choo, who is also the JB City Council\u2019s assistant director of urban transportation, said the control centre\u2019s AI can detect issues through CCTV cameras, long before a complaint is lodged.<\/p>\n With the system, the average time to solve garbage disposal problems is within three hours, while potholes are repaired within 24 hours, he noted.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout AI, we may need to wait for the ground maintenance team to detect these issues during inspection or via complaints from the public,\u201d Dr Choo said.<\/p>\n The control centre\u2019s AI can also detect traffic jams early and adjust traffic light timings to hasten the flow of traffic.<\/p>\n \u201cThe police would also request to use the system to aid them in solving crimes, like robbery, theft and kidnappings. We can use facial and car plate recognition to find out the whereabouts of the perpetrator or the vehicle he is in,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n JB\u2019s \u201cleading smart city\u201d tag refers to level three on a four-level rating system awarded to municipal councils under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government\u2019s Malaysia Smart City Framework. To achieve this, the council must have implemented technologies that can enhance its administrative capabilities.<\/p>\n In comparison, KL City Hall (DBKL) is at the level one \u201csmart city early adopter\u201d status it attained in 2023, a DBKL official told ST, meaning that the municipal council is still in the planning stages to adopt technology in its day-to-day affairs. <\/p>\n The highest level is \u201cvisionary smart city\u201d, where the local authority has completed its smart city plans with more high-tech applications implemented.<\/p>\n The national smart city framework, launched in 2018, was meant to encourage Malaysian cities to use technology to ensure a better quality of life. It includes providing better transport mobility, deterring crime, reducing congestion and pollution, and allowing for greater transparency of government data for the public. <\/p>\n