{
  "id": 1602161,
  "title": "Penang set to be named first smart city in the country",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/penang-set-to-be-named-first-smart-city-in-the-country",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-18T00:40:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Vibes",
    "slug": "the-vibes",
    "url": "https://www.thevibes.com/articles/lifestyles/126296/penang-set-to-be-named-first-smart-city-in-the-country"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Penang is on track to become the first smart city in Malaysia, according to PLANMalaysia, the country's planning authority. The growth of the state reached seven percent last year, slightly above the national average of 5.6 percent. Datuk Alias Rameli, the director-general of PLANMalaysia, revealed that the designation would be officially announced later this year.\n\nAlias emphasized that Penang has made significant strides in recent years, with the growth rate outpacing the national average. The announcement comes after the unveiling of the revised Penang Structure Plan, which is currently under public review. The online document invites feedback on how to enhance its management, as it outlines a collective vision for the state's development.\n\nThe revised plan includes plans for a third cross-channel link, which could be either an undersea tunnel or an elevated bridge connecting the island and mainland. The project was funded with RM2 million from the Twelfth Malaysia Plan's Fifth Rolling Plan, with further support anticipated under the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan.\n\nThe smart city criteria encompass five key areas: governance, economy, environment, mobility, living standards, human capital, and infrastructure. The four-week public review period for the draft plan ends on September 19.",
  "summary": "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 unvei...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}