Kota Kinabalu: The installation of nearly 1,700 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras will not automatically make Kota Kinabalu a smart city, with continued support from the city hall needed to sustain the project, said Communications Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching.
She said the smart city initiative involved multiple components and required ongoing investment beyond the initial installation of the cameras.
“Of course, for a smart city, there are many, many components in it. I would not say that after we complete this project, then Kota Kinabalu automatically becomes a smart city,” she said.
“We need the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) to keep backing the project once it is up and running,” she said at the Sabah Content Creators Dialogue 2026, hosted by Kota Kinabalu MP Datuk Chan Foong Hin and his team at Toojou Hotel, here, Sunday.
Teo said the project was funded through a grant from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), but DBKK would need to continue expanding the CCTV network in the future.
“This is a grant from MCMC to invest in Kota Kinabalu, but we also need DBKK to continue the work and install more CCTV in the future,” she said.
Under the project, MCMC and DBKK will install 1,696 CCTV cameras across the city to enable authorities to monitor traffic and emergencies in real time, while also helping to combat crime.
“When you know your movement in the area is being closely monitored, you will know this is not the place to try to be naughty,” she said.
Teo said Kota Kinabalu was the first MCMC smart city pilot project to be implemented, while similar projects in Peninsular Malaysia were still at the tender stage.
She said the contractor had been given 24 months to complete the project but had indicated that it would try to finish the work within 18 months.
“I will remember that and, together with Datuk Chan, I will monitor closely to make sure the project is carried out as smoothly as possible,” she said, adding that she would return to check on its progress.
Meanwhile, Teo said patients could now have their hospital medication delivered to their homes without paying postage under the Ubat Melalui Pos service, which began on Oct 1.
She said MCMC was covering the full postage cost, which patients previously had to pay themselves.
“The service, called Ubat Melalui Pos, started on October 1 and MCMC pays the postage.
“Before this, patients had to bear the postage cost themselves, but now MCMC bears all of it. You only need to stay at home, but you must apply,” she said.
However, patients must attend their first hospital visit in person.
For follow-up treatment, they can apply through the MyUbat application developed by the Health Ministry by uploading their prescription and home address. The hospital or clinic will then arrange for the medication to be delivered through Pos Malaysia.
Teo urged patients to apply at least three weeks before their medication runs out to avoid interruptions in treatment.
“Do not do it at the last minute, because this medicine is important. You cannot afford to miss it one day, two days, three days or even a week,” she said.
On internet access at public universities, Teo said MCMC was funding the installation of additional Wi-Fi access points at 20 institutions, including Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
She added that several institutions under the Higher Education Ministry and Mara were also covered by the initiative.
Teo stressed that the funding was provided by MCMC rather than the universities or the ministry.
“Hopefully our students will have better access to the internet, which is very important for them these days,” she said.
