MELAKA, November 6, 2026 – Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for the Paya Rumput state seat, Datuk Azman Abidin, has proposed using artificial intelligence to synchronise traffic lights according to congestion levels, saying the idea would be cheaper and faster than building flyovers or widening roads.
Speaking to Bernama, Azman said an AI-based system could count vehicles and manage junction flows, whereas existing lights rely mainly on sensors that only detect cars as they pass. He said similar technology was already used in some developed countries and “ought to be considered for Paya Rumput”.
“The technology is more affordable, given that building a flyover or widening roads would involve high costs and take time,” he told Bernama, according to the national news agency’s report published on November 6, 2026. Azman framed the proposal as a practical response to congestion rather than a large-scale construction programme.
He said traffic jams were among the issues he was focusing on because he himself had to pass 13 traffic lights on the journey from Alor Gajah to Paya Rumput. He added that residents often raised the problem after rapid housing growth while still relying on the same main roads.
“There is already too much housing here but the roads are the same, the main roads are still the same. I believe urban planning also needs to be reviewed so that the road network can cope with rising traffic as development continues,” he said, as quoted by Bernama.
Three-cornered contest in Paya Rumput
According to Bernama, Azman is contesting Paya Rumput for the first time in a three-cornered fight against Rafie Ahmad of Perikatan Nasional and Abdul Rashid Abu Bakar of Parti Bersama Malaysia. The claims about traffic conditions and the AI proposal are Azman’s campaign statements as reported by Bernama and have not been independently verified by Life News Agency.
Paya Rumput is one of the seats Pakatan Harapan is contesting in Melaka’s 16th state election. Azman’s remarks came as parties stepped up constituency-level pledges in the final stretch before early voting, with candidates highlighting local infrastructure concerns alongside statewide campaign themes.
According to Bernama, the Election Commission has set early voting for November 10, 2026 and polling day for November 14, 2026 across Melaka’s 28 state seats, after nominations on October 31, 2026. About 687,697 voters are eligible, Bernama and prior SPR briefings have reported.
Life News Agency notes that any future traffic system would require decisions by the relevant state and federal authorities after the election. Azman’s proposal, as carried by Bernama, reflects a campaign pitch on congestion management rather than a confirmed government project.
Credit : Bernama
Source: Bernama / @bernamadotcom on X
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