KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has emphasised that the development of smart cities in Malaysia must be driven by local expertise using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
Anwar, who is also 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 during the opening ceremony of the 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 also emphasised 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), together 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," he added. - Bernama
