Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for Malaysia’s smart city development to be anchored in local expertise and artificial intelligence (AI), underscoring the need to address urban challenges with homegrown innovation and technology.
Speaking at the opening of the Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur, Anwar said AI offers powerful tools to manage pressing issues such as rapid population growth, environmental pressures and infrastructure demands.
“From energy, water and waste management to disaster response, smart cities powered by AI can cut costs, lower environmental footprints and strengthen national resilience,” he said.
He also stressed that AI-enabled public services could boost accessibility, consistency and fairness in governance, aligning with Malaysia’s goals of justice, stability and safety.
Anwar urged the country to champion solutions tailored to local needs.
“By fostering innovation and supporting homegrown talent, we can reduce reliance on external technologies and ensure data sovereignty,” he said.
As part of this push, he highlighted that Digital National Bhd and Ericsson will launch a 21st-century technologies education programme to upskill more than 40,000 public sector personnel in AI, data science and digital governance, equipping them to manage future-ready cities.
