Penang Uses Facial Recognition Cctvs to Combat Crime
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JANUARY 15– 31, 2019 15– 31, JANUARY Criminals beware! Penang uses facial recognition CCTVs to combat crime Story by Christopher Tan were working together with the police in pre- Pix by Alissala Thian venting and combating crime, although crime prevention is the responsibility of the police. WE are watching you and we can recognise “I share the sentiments of the Chief Minister, you! that perhaps this should be a national effort. The That is a warning would-be criminals should cost incurred should perhaps be borne by the heed after Penang became the first state in the federal government because it comes under the country to incorporate facial recognition tech- purview of the police,” Jagdeep said. nology in its closed-circuit television cameras He added that while CCTVs were important (CCTVs) to help reduce the crime rate further. to collect data, it was far more important to be Riding the Industry 4.0 wave, the Royal able to decipher and digest the collected data. Malaysia Police and the Penang Island City Jagdeep said he would probably request for Council (MBPP) decided to equip the CCTVs an allocation to place experts at the Intelligent with facial recognition technology. Operation Centre (IOC) in Komtar to process The technology would be implemented in the data collected. stages up to December 2020 at a cost of RM12 The CCTVs could also be viewed real time million. at the IOC in Komtar. Penang police chief Comm Datuk Seri A. Jagdeep also stressed the importance of using Thaiveegan said the CCTVs were linked to the technology to prevent crime, rather than looking state police database system and monitored by for the criminal after a crime has occurred. the police at its Central Command Centre at the Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow thanked and police headquarters in Penang Road. congratulated MBPP for their good effort in (From right) Thaiveegan explaining to Jagdeep, Chow, state executive council member “The CCTVs with facial recognition technol- Yeoh Soon Hin and Yew on the usage of facial recognition technology to combat crime. launching the facial recognition project. ogy can monitor the areas in real time. We can He said the number of CCTVs on Penang extract the facial image of the suspect when a rity reasons. rently have 767 CCTVs on the island and are island were still insufficient. crime is captured on the CCTV. He said Penang was considered one of the installing another 150 units. “We need about 3,000 to 5,000 units of “The facial image is then uploaded into the safest states in Malaysia. “Penang island will have a total of 917 CCTVs on Penang island. I have seen cities with police ‘wanted persons’ database system. “As of Dec 31 last year, Penang recorded a CCTVs by mid of this year,” Yew said. 20,000 to 30,000 CCTVs. “The CCTVs will then trace the suspect and 19% drop in the violent and property crime rate. He added that the council had collaborated “Our next challenge is how can we utilise alert the police if a match is found. The percent- We have to adopt the usage of technology in this with computer firm IBM to optimise the usage and apply technology to enhance safety and age of the accuracy depends on the facial image era of Industrial Revolution 4.0. of the CCTVs, which includes the usage of security? captured by the CCTV. “If we don’t, we will be left out. This facial video analytics. “Facial recognition technology is a new ele- “The police will then be sent to bring in the recognition technology will be able to help us “We used our CCTVs to control traffic move- ment in Penang and we welcome it. suspect for questioning,” he said on Jan 2. in our investigation, apprehend criminals and ment, combat illegal rubbish dumping and “There are many other technologies which Thaiveegan said the police from other states prevent crime,” Thaiveegan said. others. can be incorporated into CCTVs, such as what or agencies such as the Immigration Department MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said “The latest addition to the video analytics was told by Jagdeep, the predictive technology. or National Anti-Drugs Agency that needed help the effort was in line with the state’s Cleaner, function is the facial recognition technology. “Predictive technology can be used to analyse could also send facial images of the individuals Greener, Safer and Healthier Penang initiative. “We would like to thank the police and patterns in data as well as forecast potential or suspects whom they want to trace. “We are moving towards a smart city and the Comm Thaiveegan for their support to make crime areas or even escape routes of those who “We can also help them,” he added. Chief Minister also told us to get ready for the Penang safer,” Yew said. commit crimes,” Chow said. Thaiveegan said he could not reveal the digital era. Penang Local Government, Housing, Town Chow hoped this initiative could inspire the number of CCTVs that were currently equipped “We began installing CCTVs in our city since and Country Planning Committee chairman federal government to turn it into a national ef- with facial recognition technology due to secu- 2008 for safety and security purposes. We cur- Jagdeep Singh said the state’s local councils fort. 2 JANUARY 16 – 31, 2019 Food bank to aid the needy Story by Christopher Tan Mutiara Food Bank idea to me last Pix by Alissala Thian year, I immediately agreed and in- structed the Penang State Secretary to THE Domestic Trade and Consumer mobilise all machinery to ensure the Affairs Ministry will be carrying out success of the programme. the Malaysia Food Bank programme “The Penang government also nationwide from this month. allocated RM600,000 back then to Its minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin grow the programme. Nasution Ismail, said the Malaysia “The success is evident. Mutiara Food Bank programme was launched Food Bank collected 321 tonnes of following the success of Penang’s food since May 2017 until now, and Mutiara Food Bank. the food has benefited 31,429 recipi- The Mutiara Food Bank pro- ents,” Lim, who was Chief Minister gramme in Penang was launched in then, said. May 2017. Lim thanked the volunteers and “If we can ‘duplicate’ what we did participants for making the pro- in Penang in every state, it would be gramme a success. Saifudin showing Lim some of the fruits and vegetables at the “The government has also agreed Mutiara Food Bank in Caring Society Complex. With them are Ahmad great,” he said on Dec 22. He also read out the speech of the Zakiyuddin (right), Phee (second row, left) and Tengku Zatashah to launch the Malaysia Food Bank Detailing the operations, Saifuddin Prime Minister. (second row, second from left). Foundation to ensure better manage- said the food collected from contribu- ment and implementation,” Mahathir tors would be transported to the cen- said in his speech text. tral kitchen for it to be reheated and Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk packed before being distributed to Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman needy recipients on the same day. said the Penang government is com- “The location of the central kitch- mitted to providing a balance devel- en is important to ensure the food opment. quality is maintained,” he added. “The state’s welfare programmes, Saifuddin added the ministry was such as the AES (Agenda Ekonomi drawing up a Bill to protect food Saksama) and i-Sejahtera pro- contributors and recipients. grammes, became ‘role model’ pro- “We need to learn from countries grammes to help the needy. like France, United States, Australia, “Our Mutiara Food Bank pro- Singapore and others, and incorporate gramme has also grown through the ideas with our own local reference. collaboration with strategic partners,” “We hope to table it in Parliament he said. at the end of this year,” he said. Ahmad Zakiyuddin was represent- Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng ing Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he was proud to represent Prime who was away. Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Also present were Deputy Domes- to launch the Malaysia Food Bank tic Trade and Consumer Affairs programme in Penang. Minister Chong Chieng Jen, Deputy “When Saifuddin proposed the Chefs from the Penang Chefs Association preparing meals for the needy at Mutiara Food Bank. Agriculture and Agro-Based Minister “The Malaysia Food Bank Sim Tze Tzin, Domestic Trade and programme, which will be led by Consumer Affairs secretary-general By Me the Domestic Trade and Con- Datuk Seri Jamil Salleh, and state sumer Affairs Ministry, coincides executive councillor Phee Boon Poh. with the government’s intention Selangor princess Tengku to reduce financial burden of the Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris people especially those in the B40 Shah attended the ceremony as a category. special guest. The guests attending the launching ceremony of the Malaysia Food Bank programme in Penang. JANUARY 16 – 31, 2019 3 Chow, state executive council member Yeoh Soon Hin, Yew, and state Deputy Speaker Dr Amar Pritpal Family and friends having a fun time walking. Abdullah giving the thumbs-up after their morning walk. Healthy start to the new year Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Noorazis Seang said the council had increased the number of registrations to 7,000 SOME 7,000 early risers started their this year from the usual 5,000. new year touring George Town city “The 7,000 slots were also filled by taking part in the City Walk 2019. in less than a month. Congratulations Having to rise early on a public to all of you here today! holiday did not wipe the smiles off the “The council will always be with faces of the participants, nor dampen the state, and together we will bring A sea of participants enjoying the City Walk 2019.