JOHOR BAHRU — Johor has made history as the country’s first smart state, after all 16 local authorities achieved at least Level 1-Smart City Early Adopter under the Malaysian Smart City rating.
State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the recognition came five years earlier than planned.
Johor had initially targeted full Smart City Master Plan alignment by 2030.
“More importantly, the Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) created history when it emerged as the first local authority in the country to achieve Level 3-Leading Smart City status, thus elevating Johor as a leader of the country’s smart city agenda,” he said in a statement today.
The recognition was presented during World Urban Planning Day and the National Planning Congress (NPC) 2025 in Putrajaya by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also energy transition and water transformation minister.
Mohd Jafni said the success was the result of synergy between PlanMalaysia@Johor, the state local government portfolio, all local authorities, technical agencies, universities, the private sector, and the local community.
“Under the Maju Johor platform, the smart city agenda is not just about digitalisation; it also reflects modern administration focused on the well-being of the people and sustainable development,” he explained.
Key initiatives implemented by Johor include Smart Command Centres in each local authority, over 2,000 smart CCTV cameras across greater Johor Bahru, a smart traffic system, air sensors, digitalisation of business licences, and AI-driven smart waste management.
The state is also actively pursuing the Johor Green Deal agenda, including expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, strengthening green energy management in government buildings, and promoting public awareness of a low-carbon lifestyle.
“This success proves that leadership grounded in vision and action can deliver major transformation for the people. It also shows that technological progress can be driven in line with human values and social well-being,” he said.
In a related statement, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the state’s recognition as a smart city will act as a catalyst for the digital economy.
He added that the achievement demonstrates the effectiveness of the implementation strategy and provides a strong foundation for strengthening the digital ecosystem and urban governance, supporting the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) as an engine for regional economic growth.
