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PLANMalaysia is poised to name Penang as the first smart city in the country in line with efforts of local governments to incorporate smart urban ecosystems in the state.
PLANMalaysia director-general Datuk Alias Rameli said the status would be unveiled later this year.
PLANMalaysia was formerly known as the Town and County Planning Department.
Penang has achieved much in recent years, with Alias pointing out that the growth of some seven per cent last year was marginally higher than the national average of 5.6 per cent.
Alias said this at the unveiling of the revised Penang Structure Plan, which is now under public scrutiny.
The document is also available online, with the public encouraged to offer their input into how it can be better managed, as it represents a shared vision of how the development phase of the state moves forward.
The new plan incorporates the proposed infrastructure of a third cross-channel link, either an undersea tunnel or an elevated bridge to connect the bustling points of both the island and mainland.
The revised plan received RM2 million in funding under the Twelfth Malaysia Plan's Fifth Rolling Plan, with additional support lined up under the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan.
Conducted over 12 months between April 2025 and April 2026, the draft plan is now open for a four-week public review ending September 19.
The smart criteria revolve around governance, economy, environment, mobility, living standards, human capital and infrastructure. - August 18, 2026.