BY ELAN PERUMAL and PRIYA MENON AT THE SELANGOR STATE ASSEMBLY

MENTRI Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said the smart city concept was a small initiative towards a bigger vision of taking the state to a different level.

To an additional question from Dr Xavier Jeyakumar (PKR-Seri Andalas) on how intensively the project would be implemented in the state, Azmin said it would not be too ambitious in its implementation.

“However, we need to start the ball rolling, so that we will be able to introduce the concept of a smart city gradually in our efforts towards smart technology.

“We hope to introduce it at selected local authorities and slowly expand it to others,” he said in his reply to the initial question from Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Kajang).

Azmin said smart city technology had been introduced in various cities in other countries, including India, and had been very useful to check various issues.

He said it was used to overcome crime, traffic and offer various information to the public, according to the needs of a particular city.

Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

“Likewise, different local authorities could find different approaches of applying the concept into their daily operations in order to offer smart solutions to the numerous issues they face,” he said.

Meanwhile, state Infrastructure Committee chairman Zaidy Talib said Klang’s third bridge was 47% complete and on schedule.

Zaidy said the project would be carried out in two phases and the first would be completed at the end of this year.

However, Zaidy appeared to be puzzled when Dr Xavier raised the question of when the project would be fully completed.

Since the reply was not forthcoming, Dr Xavier followed up by asking, “When will it be opened for cars to use?”

Zaidy said that he did not have the required information.

On Hulu Selangor District Council’s (MDHS) decision to introduce parking charges in the area, the council had been ordered to reconsider.

Local Government Committee chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah told the state assembly that the district council should renegotiate with the concessionaire to temporarily put on hold the move.

He said the state would also play its part and do its best to stop the implementation of the parking charges in Hulu Selangor.

Ean Yong was replying to an additional question from Ng Suee Lim (DAP-Sekinchang).

Ng also said that it was reported residents had objected to MDHS’ plan to implement parking charges.

Ean Yong, who was answering an initial question from Datuk Amiruddin Setro (PAS-Jeram) on parking meters in Selangor, said the agreement between the state and the concessionaire was signed in the 1990s.

Dr Xavier Jeyakumar (PKR-Seri Andalas) then raised the question on whether it was possible for the current state administration to terminate the agreement so that the plan to introduce parking charges in Hulu Selangor could be put on hold.

Ean Yong replied that the state was obligated to abide by the contract signed by the previous adminstration.

“However, we will do our part to review the contract,” he said.