Teo Nie Ching: RM300m smart city project to transform Kota Kinabalu by 2028

Commercial buildings stand in the central business district of Kota Kinabalu in this file picture dated September 23, 2020. Kota Kinabalu is set to be transformed into a smart city through a project worth about RM300 million, expected to be completed by February 2028, enhancing urban management, public safety and service delivery. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

First Published: Sunday, 11 Oct 2026 1:18 PM MYT

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 11 — Kota Kinabalu is set to be transformed into a smart city through a project worth about RM300 million, expected to be completed by February 2028, enhancing urban management, public safety and service delivery.

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the Kota Kinabalu Smart City Project, which began on August 6, was being implemented through a collaboration between the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), using Universal Service Provision (USP) funds.

She said the project involved developing fibre-optic and public Wi-Fi networks, including 50 kilometres of backbone network and 308 kilometres of last-mile network, installing 822 smart poles and multi-purpose poles, and establishing a Network Operations Command Centre (NOCC).

A total of 1,696 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras would also be installed across the DBKK administrative area to enable real-time monitoring of urban activities, strengthening the local authority’s ability to manage traffic, security and emergencies more effectively.

“The function of this smart city is that, by installing CCTV cameras, you can collect real-time data,” she told reporters after inspecting the NOCC development site here today.

Teo said the use of real-time data would enable DBKK to make more accurate and timely decisions, thereby improving urban management and service delivery to residents.

She said the NOCC, housed in the former Kota Kinabalu Magistrates’ Court building, would also give the historic building a new lease of life, with a dedicated data centre being developed next to it to support smart city operations.

The data centre would have a capacity of 120 kilowatts (kW), with an additional 30 kW of reserve capacity, and would be equipped with a backup power supply system to ensure uninterrupted operations.

Teo said renovation works on the NOCC building and construction of the data centre were expected to be completed within six months, after which DBKK staff would undergo training and knowledge transfer in preparation for operating the system.

She said the project also included public Wi-Fi facilities to improve digital connectivity, support local business growth and create new economic opportunities for the community.

Teo said MCMC would bear the operating costs of the smart city infrastructure for five years after the two-year development period, before handing over the entire facility to DBKK.

Meanwhile, Kota Kinabalu MP Datuk Chan Foong Hin described the project as an important step towards transforming Sabah’s state capital into a more modern, safe and competitive smart city.

The Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister said the digital infrastructure would not only improve urban management but also enhance the safety of residents and tourists, in line with Kota Kinabalu’s growth as a tourism destination.

“This is a good project because repurposing this heritage building will help position Kota Kinabalu among the cities embracing smart city development,” he said.

Chan said integrating information from the CCTV network and other digital systems would enable authorities to make more accurate predictions on traffic conditions, weather and public safety, improving urban planning and management.

He also expressed his appreciation to MCMC for implementing the project, describing it as a major contribution to Kota Kinabalu’s development, particularly in accelerating Sabah’s digital transformation. — Bernama