JOHOR BAHRU, Oct. 29 -- Johor has made history as the country's first smart state, after all 16 local authorities achieved at least Level 1-Smart City Early Adopter under the Malaysian Smart City rating.

State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the recognition came five years earlier than planned.

Johor had initially targeted full Smart City Master Plan alignment by 2030.

"More importantly, the Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) created history when it emerged as the first local authority in the country to achieve Level 3-Leading Smart City status, thus elevating Johor as a leader of the country's smart city agenda," he said in a statement today.

The recognition was presented during World Urba...