Malaysia’s initiative to develop smart cities is taking shape across the country, with Johor, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur and Penang already implementing artificial intelligence (AI) into their infrastructure management.
These efforts were highlighted during a fireside chat, titled “From Data to Decisions — How Malaysian Cities Are Turning AI into Everyday Impact”, held on Aug 28 at my5G Portal at The Exchange 106 in Tun Razak Exchange, Kuala Lumpur. The session was organised by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), in collaboration with Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB).
Oftentimes, when people think of a “smart city”, they imagine robots walking the streets, autonomous vehicles shuttling people to and fro, drones delivering packages, and other futuristic scenes.
In reality, the transition to smart cityhood starts off far more subtly than most would expect, as demonstrated by exhibitors from both the public and private sectors during the recent Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur (SCEKL) 2025.
Digital transformation in the public sector is a complex reform process that depends on many moving parts. They include agencies working together, leadership that provides a unified vision, setting standards and targets for the whole administration, and digital platforms and systems that support policy implementation.
In his speech that was read at the launch of the World Bank’s Malaysia Economic Monitor (October 2025) this morning, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said digital transformation in the public sector is never the responsibility of a single ministry or agency.
What does it take to profile a tree?
For arborist Mohd Zailani Jamil, the process starts by sizing up the trunk, height and looking at how the crown has spread.
“We also check the live crown ratio, which is the proportion of the tree that still has green, healthy leaves. Together, these give us a clear picture of whether the tree is thriving or showing signs of decline,” he said during a recent interview in Shah Alam, Selangor.
The Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur brought together city leaders and industry players to discuss how regional collaboration, participatory designs, and technology contribute to making cities more inclusive, sustainable, and uplifting.
The current challenge for smart cities was in building culturally vibrant urban centres, where the use of technology raised the living standards of the people, said Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
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