Johor Infrastructure Group’s managing director Datuk Mahadzir Aziz said Johor is on the right track to emerge as a model state in the development of smart cities, in line with the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) initiative.
He said that the effort requires close cooperation between the federal and state governments, as well as strategic industry players.
Kuching will soon replace its decades-old scratch coupon parking system with a new smart parking system.
A document sighted on DBKU’s website confirmed that a call for proposal for such system had been called last February 2025 by the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA).
The document states that SMA is inviting suitably and qualified suppliers/Contractors do develop, operate and manage a smart parking system for greater Kuching.
Read more: MY: Sarawak: Kuching to use digital parking system by year end
Launched in 2020, Pay & Go has grown into Sarawak’s flagship smart parking system, expanding from its first sites in Kuching malls to citywide mobility infrastructure aligned with the state’s digital economy blueprint.
Origin and concept
Pay & Go Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Eddie Wee shared that when they first started, parking in Kuching was plagued by long queues, lost tickets, and unreliable cash-only machines, with drivers voicing frustrations on social media.
Read more: MY: Sarawak: Cashless parking aligns with smart city ambitions
Smart City projects will be expanded across Selangor in line with the state’s digital ambitions.
Selangor public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin advised local councils to learn from one another as they advanced their initiatives.
While the state government has its own policies and guidelines, she said much of the innovation was being driven by Selangor’s 12 local councils
Read more: MY: Selangor: Local councils key to digital drive
Imagine waking up and your kopi-o is already brewing because your artificial intelligence (AI) assistant knows you had a late night.
It booked your e-hailing ride to the train station, reminded you to top up your e-wallet and even suggested an umbrella because rain clouds over Bangsar are moving in faster than expected.
AI is no longer just a buzzword. Across Asia, the technology is already woven into daily life — and Malaysia is only beginning to catch up.
Read more: Lessons from Hong Kong and China: What Malaysia can do to unlock its smart city potential