GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is using state-of-the-art technology to monitor and ensure the public's compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO).
Nearly 1,000 "Eyes in the Sky" (closed-circuit television cameras) at hotspots and strategic locations island-wide are in operation to survey the situation on the ground.
Mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said with the re-opening of almost all businesses and more people out and about under the RMCO, the CCTV cameras, equipped with high-resolution technology, are ensuring that people abide by social distancing and other SOPs set.
He said an accompanying public announcement system, using a horn speaker and amplifiers, sound off every 15 to 20 minutes to remind the public to observe social distancing.
"Our officers at the CCTV control centre, particularly in Komtar, will also have their eyes on the ground at all times. If there is a need, they will make the necessary announcement from the control centre to warn the people to keep their distance (from each other).
"If the people continue to ignore the warning and loiter around, then we will send our people on the ground to disperse them.
"The use of the 'Eyes in the Sky' was very helpful throughout the Movement Control Order (MCO)," he told the New Straits Times.
Checks by the NST this afternoon at Lebuh Armenian, which is famous for its wall art, showed it filled with returning domestic tourists.
The NST also found that whenever a large group of people gathered at one particular spot, the announcement system using the horn speaker and amplifier would sound, reminding the public to observe social distancing.
This was also the case in Batu Ferringhi and many other tourist spots in the state.
Besides Komtar, the control centre is also located at the state police contingent headquarters, the northeast district police headquarters, and Batu Ferringhi.
With the use of the technology, Yew said MBPP officers can now be immediately stationed in areas where they are most needed.
"Our utmost priority is to ensure the safety of all with the Covid-19 pandemic still (to be stemmed)," he added.
Before the MCO, the CCTVs were used to monitor the traffic situation, flash floods and public safety.
MBPP, in collaboration with Penang police, also introduced a face recognition system capable of identifying a person from a digital image to help curb criminal activities around George Town.