Ipoh, 04 June 2025 - The Perak State Government marked a new milestone today with the launch of the Perak Digital Economy Action Plan 2030 (“Pelan Tindakan Ekonomi Digital Perak 2030”) and the Perak State Smart City Blueprint 2040 (“Blueprint Bandar Pintar Negeri Perak 2040”), aimed at transforming Perak into an inclusive, sustainable, and competitive smart state driven by digital economy. Both strategic plans are designed to strengthen digital infrastructure, empower human capital and stimulate innovation and technology investment towards comprehensive and high-impact socio-economic development.

The launching ceremony was officiated by the Menteri Besar of Perak Darul Ridzuan, YAB Dato’ Seri Saarani bin Mohamad, in the presence of the Perak State Ex-Officio lineup, Perak State Secretary, YB Dato’ Ahmad Suaidi bin Abdul Rahim, Perak State Legal Advisor and YB Dato’ Azmir Shah bin Zainal Abidin, Perak State Financial Officer, YB Dato’ Mohd Zaki bin Mahyudin. Also present at the ceremony were Perak State Executive Council (EXCO) members, Chairman of the Communications, Multimedia and NGO Committee of Perak State, YB Encik Mohd Azlan Helmi bin Helmi, and Chairman of the Housing and Local Government Committee of Perak State, YB Puan Sandrea Ng Shy Ching.

In his opening speech, the Menteri Besar of Perak Darul Ridzuan, YAB Dato’ Seri Saarani bin Mohamad, said: “The successful implementation of smart cities supports digital economic development, while digital economic growth strengthens a city’s ability to become smarter and more resilient. The Digital Economy Agenda is one of nine key agendas under the Perak Sejahtera 2030 Plan, launched in 2021, to develop an inclusive, resilient and sustainable socio-economy for all people of Perak.”

He emphasised that both action plans were developed holistically and inclusively from the ground up. “We took into account feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, including federal and state departments and agencies, local authorities, the private sector, academia, NGOs, and local communities. This ensures that all strategies and initiatives are not only responsive to current demands but are also resilient enough to face future challenges with greater effectiveness and sustainability,” he explained.

As a prime mover for a large part of the implementation of Perak Sejahtera 2030, Datuk Redza Rafiq, Chief Executive of PKNPk said, “In line with Flagship 11 – Digital Economy, which focuses on sustainability and enhancing the state’s competitiveness as a progressive digital investment hub and Flagship 16 – SMART Perak (Smart City Ipoh 2030), both plans serve as comprehensive frameworks for driving digital technology adoption. They aim to improve the efficiency of public services, urban management and the overall quality of life for the people. This, in turn, will further strengthen the state’s administrative capabilities and position Perak as a more efficient and competitive state. The Action Plan and the Blueprint will serve as key reference points in realigning development priorities in a more systematic, progressive and data-driven manner, in support of the aspirations of Perak Sejahtera 2030.”

Perak Digital Economy Action Plan 2030

The Perak State Government, through close cooperation between the State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN), PKNPk and Digital Perak Corporation Holdings (Digital Perak), has spearheaded the development of the Perak State Digital Economy Action Plan 2030.

The plan is built upon four strategic pillars: access to quality digital infrastructure, efficient digital public administration, a vibrant business ecosystem driven by digitalisation, and a digitally empowered society. It outlines 21 programmes focusing on five flagship projects, including digital infrastructure, cashless payments, digital services, public sector digitalisation and the establishment of a Digital Innovation Centre of Excellence (CoE).

Several strategic initiatives under this framework have been rolled out since 2023, such as infrastructure upgrades, public sector digitalisation, and the promotion of cashless transactions – led and supported by Digital Perak.

These flagship projects include the development of digital infrastructure such as JENDELA, Point-of-Presence (POP) and the use of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology for rural areas, empowering the cashless payment ecosystem and Point-of-Sale (POS) systems for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), development of digital services clusters including Global Business Services (GBS) in Ipoh in collaboration with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA), public sector digitalisation for e-Government services and the establishment of CoE such as Smart Perak Research and Innovation Centre (SPRIN) and AI Academy.

The results of this comprehensive plan aim to create a significant impact on economic growth through the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with a target increase of RM2 billion to RM4.2 billion by 2030 (compared to RM80.2 billion in 2022), creating 3,000 to 6,000 new job opportunities, and helping in the digitalisation of 18,000 MSMEs to increase their competitiveness in a wider market.

Perak State Smart City Blueprint 2040

Through Digital Perak, the State Government has forged a strategic partnership with the MCMC and industry players. This collaboration comprises the identification, coordination and implementation of Smart City solution initiatives centred in Ipoh. The effort follows the appointment of Digital Perak as the ‘anchor’ agency for Smart City initiatives to collaborate in empowering the smart city development agenda in Perak state covering the needs of Digital Infrastructure, Smart Government, Digital Economy and Smart Society.

This also aims to accelerate smart city development and digital infrastructure in strategic areas such as Silver Valley Technology Park (SVTP), Automotive High Technology Valley (AHTV) and Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LuMIC).

Chairman of the Perak State Communications, Multimedia and NGO Committee, YB Encik Mohd Azlan Helmi bin Helmi said, “The application of technology and Industrial Revolution 4.0, like IoT, 5G, artificial intelligence and big data analytics will bring new impacts in improving the capabilities of the state and people. With planned action plans and state government support, the effects of infrastructure development will drive integrated digital development.”

In line with the Federal Government’s aspiration to make Malaysia a Smart Nation by 2040, the Perak State Government through the Local Government Division of the State Government Secretary’s Office in cooperation with the Perak Department of Town and Country Planning (PLANMalaysia Perak) has developed the Perak State Smart City Blueprint 2040, which is people-centred and outlines seven pillars: Smart Digital Infrastructure, Smart Governance, Smart Economy, Smart People, Smart Environment, Smart Mobility and Smart Living.

This Blueprint entails 22 policies, 52 strategies and 132 smart city initiatives as a comprehensive action plan in addressing increasingly complex and rapidly developing urbanisation challenges with efficient city management through technology application.

GeoSilverAi@Mr.TPr (Mr. Town Planner) – a digital and AI-powered tool designed to accelerate and enhance the delivery of urban planning information. This initiative reflects the state’s readiness to integrate advanced technologies into public services, supporting the development of a competitive and forward-looking smart city ecosystem.

Commenting on the Perak State Smart City Blueprint 2040, Chairman of the Housing and Local Government Committee of Perak State, YB Puan Sandrea Ng Shy Ching noted that several local authorities have successfully attained Early Adopter status in implementing smart city initiatives. These include the Ipoh City Council, Teluk Intan Municipal Council, Manjung Municipal Council, and Kampar District Council.

She said, “This achievement places these local authorities at the forefront of digital technology adoption in urban governance and service delivery. It marks an important first step in scaling smart city initiatives across the state. Both action plans will serve as strategic guides to ensure participatory and sustainable digital development, aligned with Perak’s aspiration to become a Smart State by 2040.”

Together, these plans not only serve as strategic frameworks but also act as key enablers to boost Perak’s competitiveness in the national and regional digital arena – in line with the vision of establishing Perak as a leading smart state by 2040.