Seremban to be low-carbon city by 2027 — mayor

• “We will also reduce vehicle usage in the city and encourage the use of electric vehicles... in our plan, we want to close the roads at a time in certain areas during the weekends.”

SEREMBAN (March 20): The Seremban City Council (Majis Bandaraya Seremban, in Malay, or MBS in short) hopes to make the state capital a smart and low-carbon city, said Mayor Datuk Masri Razali.

He said this would be realised through five focuses — strengthening digital infrastructure, facilitating mobility, increasing urban resilience, sustainable environment and community empowerment.

“We want to make the city safe and to prioritise safety issues including the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, as well as involving the community, it is not just physical changes like buildings but we want to use more of the information technology approach.

“The system will be used more, and people may not need to go to the Seremban City Council anymore; just go online. Investors in this state, just can use data… on population numbers, the areas to be explored and so on,” he told reporters after the launch of the Seremban Smart and Low Carbon City Action Plan 2027 here on Monday (March 20).

Towards this end, he said a total of RM7.8 million has been allocated this year, which includes the project to upgrade the existing high-pressure sodium vapour (HPSV) lamps to LED lamps, WiFi installation, smart portal, upgrading the Geori system and integrated accounting system.

Masri said among initiatives towards a low carbon city include the installation of solar panels at Wisma MBS and the Seremban wet market, in addition to plans to expand them to other buildings in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“We will also reduce vehicle usage in the city and encourage the use of electric vehicles... in our plan, we want to close the roads at a time in certain areas during the weekends,” he said.

Masri said the Seremban City Council will also develop Nilai town-oriented transportation and communication nodes through a chain of economic sectors that promote creative and new incubation, niche markets and alternative tourism.

“In Nilai, there is a commuter station... before, we never utilised the station for development, almost 30% of the land in Nilai town is residential. I am confident that with the existing action plan, it will give a good image to the Seremban City Council and thus attract more investors to this district," he also said.

In the meantime, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said he hopes other local authorities will also follow the Seremban City Council’s efforts by creating smart and low-carbon cities, in line with the National Development Agenda which supports the Sustainable Development Agenda.