Bentong to be first smart city in M’sia under OBOR

SERI KEMBANGAN: The China Smart Creation (CSC) Smart EcoValley in Bentong, Pahang will be the first smart city in Malaysia, benefiting from the “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) initiative.

Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said this was in line with the aspiration to turn the town into a smart eco-friendly city, in addition to its status as a satellite city.

“This will be the first 100 per cent smart city in Malaysia that uses China’s latest smart technology.

“The project which is expected to commence at the end of this year will take 18 to 24 months to complete,” he told reporters after the launching of the 2017 Malaysia Belt and Road’s CSC Construction Industry Products and Solutions Campaign here, yesterday.

However, the cost of the entire project on the designated 16hectare land was not disclosed.

Meanwhile, Datuk Clement Tan Wei Loon, Group Chief Executive Officer of Quantum March Sdn Bhd, a joint developer of the smart city development, said the project was a joint-venture between two local companies and 10 Chinese state- owned companies.

“Today, we have signed four agreements pertaining to the project and more agreements are expected to be sealed later,” he said.

Besides Quantum March, another local company, DSA Development Sdn Bhd, will jointly develop the upcoming smart city project.

The project, with a gross development value of RM3.5 billion, will comprise a smart city township that includes homes, hotels, universities and wellness centre which encompass the smart industry, smart living and smart management using the latest technology from China. — Bernama