KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 — Digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI), once seen as future concepts, are now becoming a reality as Malaysia paves the way for smart cities grounded in Madani principles, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In a Facebook post, he stated that the effort to develop Kota Madani and Smart City Kuala Lumpur reflects his commitment to keeping the country competitive in economic and innovation sectors, while also promoting social justice, environmental sustainability, and national pride.
“A smart city guided by Madani principles provides a platform to empower citizens, broaden access to opportunities, and ensure everyone can enjoy the benefits of technological progress.
“However, a truly smart city goes beyond technology; it must be an inclusive, sustainable, and culturally rich place to live,” he said.
He noted that Ibnu Khaldun, in his book Muqaddimah, stressed the Umran Hadari (urban) theory, that a city is the heart of civilisation, while American writer and thinker Mark Twain cautioned that a city should not turn into a “culturally barren concrete jungle.”
He added that Malaysia must build cities that are technologically advanced yet remain firmly grounded in the nation’s identity, values, and cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, Anwar emphasised that the development of smart cities in Malaysia must be driven by local expertise using AI technologies.
The finance minister said that in an increasingly complex world, cities face challenges arising from rapid population growth, diverse demography, environmental issues, and increasingly sophisticated infrastructure needs.
“This is where digital technologies such as AI offer us the tools to respond to these proactively.
“From leveraging AI capabilities in energy, water, waste management, to strengthening our national resilience with technology-empowered disaster response, the smart city bolsters cost efficiencies, decreases our environmental footprint, and fortifies our cities to be better prepared for future perils,” he said in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur today.
Anwar highlighted that AI-empowered government services could also increase accessibility and ensure consistency in responses, which will strengthen the government’s commitment towards justice, stability, and safety of the nation. He added that to enhance the nation’s technological advancement, smart cities in the country must be built for the people, serve their purpose, and be championed by local enterprises.
“We must be proud to have solutions that reflect our unique needs and values. By fostering innovation and supporting homegrown talent, we can reduce reliance on external technologies and ensure data sovereignty,” he added.
To that end, the prime minister revealed that Digital National Bhd (DNB), along with Ericsson, will be launching a 21st-century technologies education programme that will play a pivotal role in equipping personnel with competencies in AI, data science, and digital governance.
“This initiative is targeted to upskill over 40,000 public sector personnel across levels and municipalities,” Anwar added.
