Kota Kinabalu: City Hall (DBKK) expects to significantly improve its response to infrastructure problems once its Command Centre and closed-circuit television (CCTV) network comprising some 2,000 cameras are fully operational, Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah said.
“Once ready, we will know when there is damage. We will no longer depend on complaints or manual checks,” he said at a breaking of fast with the media at Hilton Hotel, Tuesday.
He said the system would allow DBKK to detect faults and damages, including street lighting failures, fast. He was asked about poorly lit areas across the city, which pose safety risks particularly to motorcyclists trying to avoid potholes at night.
Sabin acknowledged that street lighting outages were a persistent issue, attributing many of the failures to cable thefts and equipment damage.
He said contractors sometimes took longer than desired to source replacement parts and restore lighting, but stressed this was not an excuse for leaving areas unlit.
On the CCTV expansion, Sabin said the tender is currently being managed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. He estimated the network, including existing cameras, would total about 2,000 units once completed, though he could not confirm the exact figure.
He also addressed concerns over the presence of vagrants in the city, saying DBKK enforcement officers were deployed across various locations and actively working to refer individuals to welfare homes.
However, the shelter capacity remained limited and some individuals were uncooperative or had families unwilling to take them in.
“After a few days, they have to be released,” he said, adding that DBKK was not the only government agency responsible for addressing the issue.
Separately, Sabin noted Kota Kinabalu’s fresh seafood offerings as a key tourist draw as the city’s compact size and coastal location made it easy for visitors to access well-known seafood restaurants, an advantage over larger cities where dining options may require longer travel.
Sabin thanked the media for being a strategic partner in disseminating information to the public and reporting on complaints and infrastructure issues. Cash and Raya goodies were presented to members of the media in need of medical aid.
Present were Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai who is the minister responsible for overseeing DBKK, Sabah Journalists Association President Mariah Doksil and Kota Kinabalu Journalists Association Chairman Jimmy Goh.
