PRESS RELEASE MAYORS’ ROUNDTABLE DRIVING AI-POWERED URBAN DEVELOPMENT
KUALA LUMPUR, 28 AUGUST 2025 – The Ministry of Digital today convened the Mayors’ Roundtable at the Kuala Lumpur Command & Control Centre (KLCCC), bringing together city leaders from across the nation to chart a common direction towards smart city transformation.
The roundtable, chaired by YB Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital, focused on three strategic objectives:
1. Development and sharing of digital infrastructure
2. Digitisation and data sharing
3. Building digital twins for urban simulation and planning
This roundtable served as a key platform for mayors and local authorities to exchange insights, align strategies, and explore collaborative models to accelerate the adoption of AI and 5G technologies in urban governance.
Among the distinguished guests present were:
Dato' Seri TPr (Dr) Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur
• Dato’ Jusman bin Ibrahim, Mayor of Kuala Terengganu
• Dato' Sri Dr. Hj. Sabin bin Samitah, Mayor of Kota Kinabalu
• Puan Safriah binti Md Azhar, Deputy Mayor of Shah Alam
In support of this vision, the Ministry of Digital recently awarded the 5G Enterprise & AI City Grant to several local authorities and selected industry partners. The grant aims to empower local innovation in areas such as autonomous transportation, drone corridors, AI-driven monitoring systems, and integrated smart mobility solutions.
YB Gobind emphasised the importance of an inclusive and responsive digital transformation, stating, “Dialogues such as this are crucial in creating space for constructive discussions, uniting visions, and aligning actions among cities — so that technology- and AI-driven development approaches can be better adapted to local needs and realities.”
The roundtable also served as a catalyst for the upcoming Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur 2025 (SCEKL25), which will take place from 17–19 September 2025 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Organised by the Ministry of Digital in collaboration with MDEC and DNB, SCEKL25 will highlight the theme “AI Cities – Shaping Our Digital Future”, further strengthening Malaysia’s position as a regional leader in smart city innovation.
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Issued by:
Ministry of Digital.
