Kota Kinabalu: The International Symposium on Developing and Managing Water’s Edge City 2022 should be used as a platform for indepth discussion to develop coastal cities in this country.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor hoped that its outcomes would empower planning, improve management strategies and resiliency of Sabah.
“Thus, local authorities need comprehensive knowledge on development planning and sustainable coastal city management.
“Some comprehensive aspects such as empowering the population, streamlining infrastructure, optimising existing resources including cultural elements and history, should be given due attention in this symposium.
“We need sustainable development but at the same time meet community needs as required in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Therefore, it is important that we can find guidelines and suitable criteria for development in coastal cities without causing destruction to historical sites or to the environment,” he said.
His text of his speech was read by the Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Abidin Madingkir during the launch at Marriott Hotel, here, Tuesday.
Hajiji said the symposium is also an effective platform to exchange ideas and views, build relationships while sharing knowledge and experience.
“We are here to represent our respective cities not only in Malaysia but also from different cultures. However, we are all facing the imminent challenges in each of our cities.
“These challenges include climate change, economic, social and developmental we face as local authorities, planners, developers and citizens of the city itself.
“I hope that this symposium will achieve its objective and become the right platform to share experiences and best practices to explore new opportunities for the well-being of our city,” he said.
In conjunction with the event, the first Multi-Function Pole (Smart Pole) in Kota Kinabalu, was also launched.
City Hall Headquarters was chosen as the first 5G covered government building in East Malaysia with the smart pole built beside it.
“Well done and congratulations to both City Hall and Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) for the first multi-function smart pole in East Malaysia,” he said.
The 5G Multi-Functional Pole is an infrastructure that integrates multiple functions including Smart Lighting, Monitoring, Traffic Management, Environmental Detection, Messaging, Emergency Alerts, Disaster Warnings and 5G Telecommunications.
It was a step further into the smart city planning and development as intended by the State Government which is towards a digital city with 5G enabled technology.
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