Marking the expansion of the data analytics initiative across the state of Johor, Johor Menteri Besar, Datuk Ir. Hasni Mohammad has launched the Iskandar Malaysia Urban Observatory (IMUO) microsite on 21st December 2020.
Part of Johor Digital Agenda
Hasni confidently states that Johor government is in full support of data analytics as a key item in the Johor Digital Agenda. The Johor Digital Agenda is the state government’s effort to accelerate the state’s economy, driven by the digital economy, taking into account the COVID-19 pandemic which has altered society’s survival.
The IRDA-led data analytics platform project has 5 local authorities namely Iskandar Malaysia, Johor Bahru City Council, Iskandar Puteri City Council, Pasir Gudang City Council, Kulai Municipal Council, and Pontian District Council which were already on board.
How Does IMUO Work?
Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of IRDA said that the IMUO will analyse huge amounts of data from various sensors and sources to uncover patterns, get insights and extract valuable information.
He added that IMUO is an internationally known initiative and already has United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) support. Data such as age, gender, household income and skill levels allow authorities to understand the Rakyat’s general representation and situation. IMUO as a powerful data analytics tool can help analyse them.
As an example, 46% of the population in Iskandar Malaysia belongs to the younger age group below 40 years of age enabling the authority to prepare leadership skills for this youth category.
What Comes Forth After the Analysis?
The study of household income and form of housing also helped the region prepare effectively for one of its largest Rakyat ventures, the Iskandar Malaysia Bus Rapid Transit or IMBRT routes. The same analysis was also used to understand housing demand and supply.
The IMUO data analytics platform can be found at (www.iskandarmalaysia.com.my/imuo).
