Malaysia Develops Human-Centered AI Cities Through Four Strategic Collaborations

Key Takeaways

Malaysia signed three key memorandums of understanding to advance AI and smart city initiatives at the Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur 2025.
The partnerships, involving Digital Nasional Berhad and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, aim to create inclusive, AI-powered urban environments.
Key projects include AI workforce training, a national AI platform with Amazon Web Services, and climate resilience initiatives in Penang.

Collaboration for a Future-Ready Malaysia

Malaysia is progressing toward a more inclusive and digitally advanced society, highlighted by landmark agreements signed at the Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur 2025 (SCEKL25). The event, featuring city leaders and global innovators, showcased how AI and 5G technologies will shape urban landscapes.

During SCEKL25, Gobind Deo Singh, the minister of digital, witnessed the signing of three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and one letter of collaboration. These agreements emphasize Malaysia’s role in integrating various stakeholders—industry leaders, policymakers, and communities—to foster smart, sustainable urban innovation.

Azman Ismail, CEO of Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), emphasized the goal of building a future-ready Malaysia by leveraging the strengths of both international technology partners and local institutions. This collaboration seeks to develop AI-powered cities and inclusive digital ecosystems, ensuring meaningful integration of technology that benefits various societal segments—including governments, enterprises, and communities.

Anuar Fariz Fadzil, CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), reiterated a commitment to human-centered progress. He stated that the signed MoUs aim to embed AI in critical areas such as urban sustainability and digital services, further establishing Malaysia as a digital hub in ASEAN.

Among the key agreements, the first MoU with Ericsson establishes the 21st Century Technologies Education Programme, a four-hour course designed to upskill local civil servants in AI, 5G, and IoT. David Hägerbro, head of Ericsson Malaysia, highlighted that a competent government workforce is essential to realizing Malaysia’s digital ambitions.

The second collaboration involves DNB and Amazon Web Services, focusing on developing a national AI cities platform. This initiative aims to integrate cloud services and AI for efficient urban operations and predictive governance, embodying Malaysia’s journey toward smarter governance.

The third MoU, with the Malaysian Smart City Alliance Association (MSCA), focuses on developing frameworks for technology integration into daily life, enhancing urban mobility and citizen services. Dr. Raslan Ahmad, MSCA chairman, expressed commitment to transforming community interactions through AI-driven solutions.

Finally, MDEC and Dell Technologies signed an MoU to create a testbed for climate AI predictions in Penang’s UNESCO World Heritage Zone. This project aims to protect cultural heritage while improving environmental resilience, focusing on responsible technology use to address real urban challenges.

Sumash Singh, managing director of Dell Technologies for Malaysia and Indonesia, concluded that Malaysia is not merely adopting digital transformation; it is leading the way toward inclusive, future-ready smart cities within the ASEAN region.

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