IJM Corporation Bhd today launched its Smart Highway Traffic Control Centre, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered system designed to improve real-time traffic monitoring and incident detection across three of its highways. Launched at the Sungai Besi Expressway (Besraya) Loke Yew toll plaza lay-by, the centre uses AI, data analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT) to detect incidents and potential hazards more quickly than conventional manual monitoring.
The system covers Besraya, the New Pantai Expressway (NPE) and the Kajang-Seremban Expressway (LEKAS), with IJM investing RM14.3 million since 2025 to upgrade monitoring infrastructure across the three highways. Based on Globalcomm Solutionsβ HyperLane technology, it can detect a wide range of incidents, including traffic congestion, vehicle breakdowns, pedestrians, vehicles travelling against traffic, illegal lane changes and vehicles stopped on the hard shoulder.
The system can also identify early signs of flooding, liquid spills, potholes, rubbish dumping and unauthorised advertising, while counting vehicles by class and monitoring vehicle speeds. IJM says the faster detection and coordination enabled by the system can reduce emergency response times to between eight and 10 minutes, around 33% faster than before.
144 CCTV Cameras And More
The centre is connected to 144 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, 87 video incident detection systems (VIDS), 35 automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems and 22 variable message signs (VMS) across the three highways. Its data is also linked to the Malaysian Highway Authorityβs (LLM) traffic management centre, which integrates 873 CCTVs and 278 VMS units nationwide.
The system is further supported by Guard Expert Pro, a smart highway-patrolling management system developed by IJM in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. An IJM official said the vehicle-speed data is not currently shared with law enforcement in real time, although the concessionaire will work with police where necessary to maintain highway safety.
No Retrenchments Planned
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, who officiated the launch, said the implementation of the AI-powered system will not result in highway patrol officers or other staff being retrenched. Instead, IJM will focus on upskilling workers and moving them into higher-value responsibilities, he said.
Nanta also said the smart highway initiative aligns with the Malaysia Intelligent Transport System (ITS) Roadmap 2030, which covers AI, video analytics, IoT, dynamic lane management, real-time journey information and integrated traffic management centres. He noted that around six million vehicles use Peninsular Malaysiaβs highway network daily, with 34 tolled highways spanning 2,151 km and operated by 28 concessionaires.
Alongside the launch, LLM and IJM also introduced a Virtual Reality (VR) Highway Safety Programme aimed at improving road safety awareness among schoolchildren. Nanta said the wider transition towards smarter highways will require collaboration between the Works Ministry, LLM, concessionaires, enforcement agencies, emergency teams and technology companies.