Malaysia has revealed that the first phase of installation of 496 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras nationwide, as part of a road safety initiative, will be completed by March next year.

The country will install cameras at potential crime-prone areas under the ninth Malaysia plan at a cost of MYR59m ($19m), allocated for the programme.

The installation of the cameras will help combat crime in the country as part of the safe city programme under the National Key Result Areas (NKRA).

Under the first phase, 152 cameras will be installed at Selangor, 88 in Johor, 48 each in Penang, Negri Sembilan and Kedah (48), 40 in Perak, 24 in Malacca, 16 each in Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu, according to thestar.com.my.

The second phase, under the tenth Malaysia plan, involves another 456 CCTVs and will include key hotspots in Sabah and Sarawak.