Johor To Host Smart City Forum 2026, Eyes Leadership In Urban Development

JOHOR BAHRU, July 8 (Bernama) -- Johor is positioning itself as a leader in smart cities at both national and regional levels by hosting the Johor Smart City Forum 2026, which will benefit the local community, students, tech entrepreneurs, and strategic investors.

State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the forum is one of the main agendas discussed during an engagement session with PLANMalaysia Johor regarding the planning and development budget application for 2026.

He added that planning and budgeting for 2026 are crucial to ensure the direction of urban and regional planning in Johor remains aligned with current needs and the state government's sustainable development policies.

"Focus is also being given to the development of the Second Phase of the Johor Urban Observatory (JUO), which aims to enhance real-time urban monitoring systems. The JUO will become a vital data source for the State Government in making science- and technology-based decisions, particularly concerning traffic, floods, pollution, and the well-being of Johor residents.

"The JUO Phase 2 will involve various initiatives such as installing sensors in rivers and developing a smart system dashboard that integrates data between local authorities, state and federal agencies. This initiative is a key component in supporting the Johor-Singapore Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and the Maju Johor aspirations," he said in the statement, which was uploaded to his Facebook page today.

He expressed gratitude to PLANMalaysia Johor for showcasing a data-driven, technology-focused, and socially inclusive development strategy during the session.

"God willing, the Johor State Government, under the leadership of Menteri Besar, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, will continue to support forward-looking strategic planning," he added.

-- BERNAMA