Malaysia in the spotlight as host of Southeast Asia’s first Smart City Expo

• “SCEKL25 will serve as a platform for policy to project collaboration, investor engagement, technology showcases, and real-world urban solutions from smart city mobility to predictive energy systems,” said Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo at the SCEKL25 launch event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

KUALA LUMPUR (June 4): Malaysia has entered the final 100-day countdown to host Southeast Asia’s first Smart City Expo, with Kuala Lumpur set to welcome over 10,000 delegates and 300 exhibitors from more than 20 countries this September.

Themed “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Shaping the Digital Future”, the Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur 2025 (SCEKL25), scheduled for Sept 17–19, will serve as a platform to showcase Malaysia’s ambition in urban innovation, smart city solutions, and digital transformation.

“SCEKL25 will serve as a platform for policy to project collaboration, investor engagement, technology showcases, and real-world urban solutions from smart city mobility to predictive energy systems,” said Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo (pictured) at the SCEKL25 launch event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Wednesday.

Organisers say the expo will focus on four pillars: AI, resilience and sustainability, digital entrepreneurship and economic development, and community empowerment through digital solutions.

“This vision is rooted in responsibility, guided by ethics and driven by purpose. It calls on us to create cities that are intelligent, cities that are human-centric, and cities that are sustainable, where technology empowers communities and drives meaningful change,” said Gobind.

He added that states such as Johor, Penang and Sarawak have already rolled out smart city initiatives in recent years, laying the groundwork for scalable urban innovation.

Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), which is supporting the initiative, will provide 5G infrastructure to enable real-time data exchange for AI-driven city applications.

“SCEKL25 is designed to be flexible and responsive to diverse urban needs. From national pavilions, to start-up showcases, to bilateral roundtables and expert panels, every participant will have a meaningful space to connect, contribute, and shape the future of urban innovation,” said DNB chief executive officer Datuk Azman Ismail.

Over 70% of the exhibition space has already been secured, with support from major firms, including Dell, Intel, Temec, Ericsson and Huawei, along with associations such as the Malaysia Smart Cities Alliance, Smart Cities Network, Malaysia IoT Association, and the Malaysia PropTech Association.

Does Malaysia have what it takes to become a Blue Zone, marked by health and longevity? Download a copy of EdgeProp’s Blueprint for Wellness to check out townships that are paving the path towards that.