KUALA LUMPUR: More cities and states should adopt a smart video surveillance system to enhance public safety and ensure a safer Malaysia for both tourists and locals, said Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan.
Khairul today visited the Kuala Lumpur Command and Control Centre in Bukit Jalil and saw the capabilities and capacity of CCTV operations in the city centre.
He said to date, the federal capital had 5,000 smart CCTVs compared to 1,000 five years ago, to ensure public safety as part of Kuala Lumpur City Hall's transformation to becoming a smart city.
"We have been hearing fewer incidents of petty thefts like snatch thefts and pick pocketing.
"This is a key indicator that the CCTV cameras are both effective in ensuring safety as well as preventing crime," he said in a statement.
Khairul Firdaus noted that he was particularly fascinated by the smart video surveillance system in the control room.
The system was integrated with artificial intelligence and video content analytics, which had increased safety in the city.
"I am also proud to hear that this smart video surveillance system was innovated and built by a home-grown smart city solution provider.
"I hope more cities and states in Malaysia will adopt this system and technology as I believe it will increase our cities' public safety and make Malaysia safer for both tourists and locals."
Khairul Firdaus noteled that the tourism industry was on the road to recovery.
As Malaysia began its transition to endemicity on April 1, 2022, he said the industry had begun to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
"It is an important contributor to our economy where in 2019, it contributed to 15.9 per cent of Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) with 26.1 million tourists arriving in Malaysia.
"Furthermore, it supported more than 3.6 million jobs that made up 23.6 per cent of the workforce.
"With the recent resumption of economic activities and the reopening of the borders, we are seeing optimistic signs of the tourism industry picking up to the pre-pandemic level," he said.
He added that international passenger traffic volume had been steadily increasing.
In 2020 and 2021, Malaysia only had 4.33 million and 0.13 million tourists entering the country due to Covid-19 prevention measures.
"In 2023, we are targeting the arrival of 15.6 million tourists which will see a projected RM47.6 billion in tourism receipts. This will contribute to roughly 15.1 per cent of GDP," he said.