MBI Advances Smart City Agenda With Technical Visit To Taopu, Shanghai

IPOH, May 22 (Bernama) -- The Perak state government is advancing its smart city agenda with a technical visit to Taopu Smart City in Shanghai, China, to study integrated technology and urban management systems that could be applied at home.

The Ipoh City Council (MBI) said in a statement that the Perak delegation was led by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, accompanied by Ipoh Mayor Zamakhshari Hanipah.

MBI said the visit aimed to examine smart city development up close, particularly digital twins, the Internet of Things (IoT), command centre systems and real-time urban management.

"Taopu Smart City was once an industrial zone before being transformed into a modern smart district that integrates physical planning, digital technology, building management, security monitoring, energy efficiency and city operations.

"Its approach shows how an urban area can be managed more efficiently using data, smart sensors, and centralised monitoring systems, serving as a key reference for developing a more mature and sustainable smart city ecosystem," said MBI. 

MBI said the insights from the visit are highly relevant to Perak's smart city agenda, particularly in strengthening the Ipoh Integrated Operation Centre (IIOC), which is already operating at the city level.

The knowledge gained would also serve as an early reference for the state's preparations to develop the Perak State Command Centre.

"This State Command Centre is seen as a vital integrated platform to support operational monitoring, data coordination, cross-agency response and faster, data-driven decision-making.

"The Perak state government is committed to exploring new approaches that improve urban management, public service delivery, and citizens' quality of life, leveraging technology and strategic partnerships with international counterparts," the statement read.

Meanwhile, Saarani said the mission to China, running from May 17 to 24, also includes business matching sessions and strategic visits to the automotive, smart city, digital technology and data centre sectors, all aimed at expanding Perak's investment network.

-- BERNAMA