PUTRAJAYA: Plans for Putrajaya and Shanghai to be sister cities are underway, says Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
He added that he was preparing a proposal on the move, part of the 50th anniversary celebration of diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia, for Cabinet endorsement before Malaysia Day.
“Shanghai and Putrajaya can be sister cities, and work together,” he said during the presentation of the ministry's half-year report here on Friday (Aug 2).
He said his working visit to Shanghai found several areas that Malaysia could learn from, especially its smart city initiative.
“We found that out of 156 local councils, only a few (fit the bill to match) Shanghai, (including) Putrajaya," he added.
Shanghai's comprehensive city surveillance was also a key area to emulate, he said.
“They have facial recognition. This makes a city safe because everything is under surveillance with HD cameras,” he said.
Asked if similar facial recognition would be implemented in Malaysia, Nga said it could be considered.
“It would involve financial implications, but if we have the technology and it is proven to be useful, why not? That would make our cities very safe,” he said, noting there were privacy concerns in China over facial recognition for mass surveillance.
