**2. Literature Background**

Understanding the basic smart city domains is mainly influenced by the six domains outlined by [2], namely the smart economy, living, environment, people, governance, and mobility.

According to [2], the smart economy component is characterized by competitiveness. Among the sub-components of the smart economy (in the case of medium-sized European city rankings) are an innovative spirit, entrepreneurship, an economic image and trademark, productivity, labor market flexibility, and international embeddedness. As the economy is a broad concept and its strategies are context-based, many scholars and agencies have suggested measuring specific components, including nineteen economic attributes in the case of India, as stated by [20]. These include promoting balanced and sustainable economic growth, making strategic investments on strategic assets, and knowing that all forms of economics function at the local level. In another case, the smart economy domain of the

Hong Kong Smart City Blueprint [8] promotes sharing economy, fintech, smart tourism, and re-industrialization.

In the case of Malaysia, the components stated in MSCF are to intensify the application of technology and digitalization in core business functions, enhance the usage of e-payment, attract investment in high value-added industries, create a workforce to match the jobs in these industries, provide technology labs and collaborative platforms, establish incubators and accelerators, and leverage existing government assistance and funding. Supporting literature can be found in Table 1.

**Table 1.** Smart economy domain.


High value-added activities refer to the major contribution of a private industry or government sector to overall gross domestic product (GDP) [34]. Contributions to GDP include higher wages and compensation for employees, taxes on production, lower import subsidies, and a gross operating surplus [34]. The Hong Kong labor market is an example of a concentration of high value-added service industries, with 25.9% of employees working in public administration or in the social and personal services industry in 2014 [35]. However, it is challenging to transition from low to high value-added industries in developing countries. This is the case in Indonesia, where low value-added industries such as textiles are desperately fighting rising wages and seeking protection from international competition. High value-added sectors largely utilize technology in various activities, including designing products, delivering products, processing customer orders, and improving product quality [27]. Nevertheless, according to MSCF, technology disruptors in Malaysia, such as robotics and analytics, are shifting traditional services towards value-adding and non-traditional service areas. However, the authors observed that MSCF did not refer to the issues of wages and imbalanced urban-rural development. Correspondingly, the smart city policy has offered opportunities within the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) mostly in developed states and urban areas, while less-developed states and rural areas, such as Sabah, are mentioned far less.

The second domain of smart living is characterized by the quality of life. Among the sub-components found in the smart living concept outlined by [2] are cultural facilities, health conditions, individual safety, housing quality, educational facilities, touristic attractivity, and social cohesion. In the Indian case, [20] scoped smart living into 14 attributes, including promoting shared values in society, celebrating local history and culture, and opening highly accessible public spaces. In the case of Hong Kong, their strategies are in building a Wi-Fi-connected city, developing faster digital payment systems, providing free electronic identity (eID) citizenship for government and commercial online transactions, and launching a \$1 billion funding scheme to support the procurement of technological products by elderly and rehabilitation service units [8].

In Malaysia, the MSCF strategies are to enhance safety and security, promote the provision of quality housing, optimize emergency responses, enhance the quality of healthcare services through digital technology and encourage urban farming for better living. Supporting literature can be found in Table 2.


**Table 2.** Smart living domain.

Concerning the element of enhancing safety and security, one key initiative in Malaysia is the focus on crime reduction [36,45]. For example, under the safe city initiative through the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, a safer city can be created using several strategies, such as crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) and crime prevention through social design (CSPD) [46]. With CPTED, information and communication technology (ICT), and mechanical surveillance design initiatives are popular, including the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) in public spaces, IoT (internet-of-things) lighting, safety (panic button) alarms, and establishing GIS (geographic information system) mapping for crime detection [36]. In the case of the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, crime is always an important issue for the citizens and the city authorities. Research has shown that the challenges to making Kuala Lumpur a safe city can be mitigated by enhancing the role of guardians (i.e., the authorities); promoting CPTED and CSPD activities; and assisting victims and offenders with psychological, financial, and family assistance [47].

The idea behind the third domain, smart environment, centers on preserving natural resources. The smart environment sub-components outlined by [2] are the attractivity of natural conditions, pollution, environmental protection efforts, and sustainable resource management. Another source of reference from India, Vinod Kumar [20], presented 22 attributes to describe the smart environment, which included protecting nature; managing water resources, water supply systems, floods, and inundations effectively; encouraging neighborliness and a spirit of community; upgrading urban resilience to the impacts of climate change; and creating a low-carbon environment based on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the like. In the Hong Kong case, the strategies are focused on reducing the carbon intensity; promoting energy efficiency and conservation in the community, with a particular focus on green and intelligent buildings; reducing waste; and monitoring the air pollution and cleanliness of public spaces [8].

In Malaysia, MSCF smart environment strategies include the need to preserve green areas and enhance the management of trees in public parks; strengthen the integrated and sustainable solid waste management; strengthen the solid waste laws and policies; improve the air quality and its monitoring system; improve the water quality and its monitoring system; increase energy efficiency and promote renewable energy sources in the community; enhance disaster risk management by adopting advanced technology applications; enhance the non-revenue water management; and encourage the development of a low-carbon city concept that can be adopted at the local level. Supporting literature can be found in Table 3.

**Table 3.** Smart environment domain.


70

In terms of park and green area management, the reduction in size of reserved forest and the preservation of green space in development plans are continual issues in Malaysia. Although forest land may have been gazetted, new development plans have always resulted in excuses to degazette forest reserves in favor of mixed-use development. For example, the Selangor State Government has recently granted a mixed development project on 931 hectares of the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve, which is largely a move to rescind the protected status of the remnants of a once-sprawling peat forest that has been home to four indigenous Temuan settlements. The project also threatens wildlife [56]. This is one case that demonstrates the image of the Malaysian government, which can easily override gazetted land protection with the introduction of new plans under political influence and with profitable intentions, despite concerns for the public good of civil society, climate change, and the overall environment. In terms of park and green area management, the reduction in size of reserved forest and the preservation of green space in development plans are continual issues in Malaysia. Although forest land may have been gazetted, new development plans have always resulted in excuses to degazette forest reserves in favor of mixed-use development. For example, the Selangor State Government has recently granted a mixed development project on 931 hectares of the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve, which is largely a move to rescind the protected status of the remnants of a once-sprawling peat forest that has been home to four indigenous Temuan settlements. The project also threatens wildlife [56]. This is one case that demonstrates the image of the Malaysian government, which can easily override gazetted land protection with the introduction of new plans under political influence and with profitable intentions, despite concerns for the public good of civil society, climate change, and the overall environment.

Preserve green area and enhance the management of trees in public parks [2,48] Strengthen the integrated and sustainable solid waste management [2,48]

Increase energy efficiency and promote renewable energy sources in community [2,20,37] Enhance the disaster risk management by adopting advanced technology application [52,53]

Encourage the development of low carbon city concept to be adopted at local level [48,55]

**Smart Environment Strategy Reference**

Strengthen the solid waste laws and policies [49,50] Improve the air quality and its monitoring system [50,51] Improve the water quality and its monitoring system [2,50]

Enhance the non-revenue water management [2,54]

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**Table 3.** Smart environment domain.

In terms of community attitudes to environmental protection, much change is required in Malaysia, especially within the authority-dependence mindset. The study on the Iskandar territory, Johor, Malaysia, Ref. [57] showed that residents are conscious of the need for environmental cleanliness; however, their mindsets were hindered by the belief that the cleanliness of public space is mainly the responsibility of the authorities. Thus, Ref. [57] reaffirmed that the involvement and accountability of all parties are much needed in caring for the natural environment. In terms of community attitudes to environmental protection, much change is required in Malaysia, especially within the authority-dependence mindset. The study on the Iskandar territory, Johor, Malaysia, [57] showed that residents are conscious of the need for environmental cleanliness; however, their mindsets were hindered by the belief that the cleanliness of public space is mainly the responsibility of the authorities. Thus, [57] reaffirmed that the involvement and accountability of all parties are much needed in caring for the natural environment.

The fourth domain of smart people is characterized by social and human capital [2]. The indicators for the case of Europe include the level of qualification, affinity with lifelong learning, social and ethnic plurality, flexibility, creativity, cosmopolitanism, openmindedness, and participation in public life. In the case of India, 'smart people' are proposed as being the fundamental building block of a smart city system because, without people's active participation, a smart city system would not function effectively (Figure 1). Thus, Ref. [20] proposed eleven attributes of smart people by including the need to be actively involved in the city's sustainable development; excel in creativity and finding unique solutions to challenging issues; opt for lifelong learning and use e-learning models; and be cosmopolitan and open-minded and hold a multicultural perspective. In the case of Hong Kong, this focuses on nurturing young talent, innovation, and entrepreneurial culture [8]. The fourth domain of smart people is characterized by social and human capital [2]. The indicators for the case of Europe include the level of qualification, affinity with lifelong learning, social and ethnic plurality, flexibility, creativity, cosmopolitanism, openmindedness, and participation in public life. In the case of India, 'smart people' are proposed as being the fundamental building block of a smart city system because, without people's active participation, a smart city system would not function effectively (Figure 1). Thus, [20] proposed eleven attributes of smart people by including the need to be actively involved in the city's sustainable development; excel in creativity and finding unique solutions to challenging issues; opt for lifelong learning and use e-learning models; and be cosmopolitan and open-minded and hold a multicultural perspective. In the case of Hong Kong, this focuses on nurturing young talent, innovation, and entrepreneurial culture [8].

**Figure 1. Figure 1.**  Smart city system building blocks, adapted from [ Smart city system building blocks, adapted from [20]. 20].

In the case of Malaysia, the strategies are to improve moral education in schools; enhance public awareness in practicing good moral and civic duties; increase skilled and talented human capital at every level; enhance public participation and community empowerment initiatives; improve gender sensitization and the inclusivity of vulnerable groups; and increase public willingness to adapt to emerging technologies. Supporting literature can be found in Table 4.

**Table 4.** Smart people domain.


The element of cultivating skilled and talented human capital is particularly crucial, as Malaysia is determined to adopt the National Fourth Industrial Revolution Policy (Malaysian Industry 4.0 Policy), which was launched recently on 1 July 2021 [66]. This Industry 4.0 policy was launched with the purpose of transforming Malaysia into a highincome state through technology and digitalization. Five fundamental technologies of the Industry 4.0 policy include artificial intelligence, the internet of things, blockchain, cloud computing and big data analytics, and advanced materials and technologies [67]. For the young generation to master these Industry 4.0 skills, it is crucial to plan every level of education properly. The Industry 4.0 policy is aligned with the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, launched in 2019. The aim is to drive Malaysia towards developed nation status by 2030.

The moral and spiritual education element is considered appropriate for the majority Muslim society in Malaysia. The moral element of cultivating smart people is comparatively silent in most western European smart societies (refer to [2,68]). Since the early 1980s, Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz bin Ungku Abdul Hamid, a well-known academician in Malaysia, has creatively interpreted a religious and moral form of development, which represents a balance between the spiritual and material world and is geared towards the needs of the local Muslim community [59]. The emphasis on the moral and spiritual element adopted in the MSCF will further strengthen the quality of Malaysian citizenship by developing a more peaceful and caring society.

Citizen participation and community empowerment are often identified as important elements in realizing a citizen-centric smart city [20,62]. However, this attention should never be blinded by political actions that assume that tokenism and non-participation (refer to [61]) satisfy this type of participation. On the contrary, it is vital to involve citizens in decision making and agenda setting in the smart city initiatives [69].

The core value of the fifth domain of smart governance is political participation. From the European perspective, Ref. [2] described smart governance using the components of participation in decision making, public and social services, and transparent governance. The systematic literature review by [70] summarized six attributes for building a smart governance system. It should be based on ICT, external collaboration and participation, internal coordination, decision-making processes, e-administration, and outcomes. Prior research also suggests that the main outcome of smart city governance is the production of a wide range of public values through innovative collaborations [70].

From the Indian perspective, Ref. [71] suggested 12 steps to convert existing egovernance to smart governance, including an increase in city expenditure on ICT; the ease of access to e-services such as lodge complaints, claims and rights to information; and the promotion of e-democracy through e-decision making and e-voting. From the Hong Kong perspective, smart governance is promoted through using open data for smart city innovations; building smarter city infrastructure, such as the fifth generation (5G) mobile network; building a new big data analytics platform; data sharing among government departments; and adopting building information modelling (BIM) for major government capital work projects [8].

From the MSCF perspective, the components include increasing the scope of egovernment services, increasing the quality of e-government services, elevating the use of data sharing platforms across government agencies, and promoting information disclosure

and open data from the Government. Table 5 shows the smart governance strategies in MSCF and the related citations.

**Table 5.** Smart governance domain.


It is crucial to be aware of the component of elevating the use of data sharing platforms across government agencies, as the isolated performance of government agencies was identified by the former prime minister as hindering the performance and services of government agencies [80]. In fact, this lack of efficiency, which is due to excessive bureaucracy, the reluctance of public servants to share data, and other factors, is not a new issue in the delivery of the Malaysian government system [81,82].

Concerning the sixth domain, smart mobility, the main concerns outlined by [2] were transport and ICT. The sub-components of [2] include local accessibility; (inter)national accessibility; the availability of an ICT infrastructure; and sustainable, innovative, and safe transport systems. In the case of India, Ref. [20] described smart mobility in terms of ten attributes, such as a focus on the mobility of people but not vehicles; advocating walkability and cycling; balanced transportation options such as a mass rapid transit system; and seamless mobility for differently abled people. In the Hong Kong case, the strategies are to focus on intelligent transport systems and traffic management; public transport interchanges/ bus stops and parking; environmental friendliness in transport; and smart airports with facial biometric technology. These features should offer a hassle-free travel experience [8].

In the Malaysian case, the smart mobility strategies address the need to establish intelligent transport management; enhance data sharing and digital mobility platforms; establish demand-based ridesharing services; utilize AI and the sensor-based predictive maintenance of a public transport fleet and infrastructure; enhance the dynamic smart parking infrastructure; establish an electric vehicle revolution; enhance collaboration with academia on research and development (R&D) into, and the commercialization of, EVs and next-generation automobiles; and promote the usage of public transport applications. Table 6 shows the smart mobility strategies in MSCF and the related citations.

**Table 6.** Smart mobility domain.


In general, all the components and strategies in various countries discussed above indicate that smart mobility is universal, regardless of whether it is introduced in the global north or south. The common item is the promotion of people-centric (rather than vehicle-centric) [83] and environmentally friendly (rather than utility convenient) transportation means [84]. The measures involved include opting to cycle and walk and to take public transport in the city rather than using a personal vehicle that produces greenhouse gas, carbon emissions, and pollution. This is predominantly important in many Asian cities; for example, Kuala Lumpur is characterized by heavy car dependence, leading to

traffic congestion and delays [85]. Planning for future mobility must focus less on building more highways and being car-dependent but rather on alternative ways of thinking about environmentally friendly mobility means and adoption. Considering the need for environmental protection and the preference for connecting two destination points via electronic platforms/communication, the actual physical cost of travelling could be reduced. fic congestion and delays [85]. Planning for future mobility must focus less on building more highways and being car-dependent but rather on alternative ways of thinking about environmentally friendly mobility means and adoption. Considering the need for environmental protection and the preference for connecting two destination points via electronic platforms/communication, the actual physical cost of travelling could be reduced.

EVs and next-generation automobile [83,85] Promote the usage of public transport application [8,83–85] In general, all the components and strategies in various countries discussed above indicate that smart mobility is universal, regardless of whether it is introduced in the global north or south. The common item is the promotion of people-centric (rather than vehicle-centric) [83] and environmentally friendly (rather than utility convenient) transportation means [84]. The measures involved include opting to cycle and walk and to take public transport in the city rather than using a personal vehicle that produces greenhouse gas, carbon emissions, and pollution. This is predominantly important in many Asian cities; for example, Kuala Lumpur is characterized by heavy car dependence, leading to traf-

In addition to the above six basic domains, the authors would like to discuss another emerging domain, that of smart digital infrastructure. This domain did not appear as an individual domain in [2,8,20]. Giffinger et al. [2] explicitly merged this element into the smart mobility domain. Meanwhile, in the case of Hong Kong, this digital infrastructure is explained/inserted in the smart government domain. As digital infrastructure is a frequent practice in Western and developed countries in Europe and North America, it is quite ready and more embedded into other domains. Under the New York Smart and Equitable City Plan 2015, digital infrastructure was embedded in the domains of smart buildings and infrastructure; smart transport and mobility; smart energy and environment; smart public health and safety; and smart government and community [88]. All the sectors and strategies within the smart cities concept center on ICT infrastructure, a point on which the authors and the majority of smart city scholars agree (Figure 2). In addition to the above six basic domains, the authors would like to discuss another emerging domain, that of smart digital infrastructure. This domain did not appear as an individual domain in [2,8,20]. Giffinger et al. [2] explicitly merged this element into the smart mobility domain. Meanwhile, in the case of Hong Kong, this digital infrastructure is explained/inserted in the smart government domain. As digital infrastructure is a frequent practice in Western and developed countries in Europe and North America, it is quite ready and more embedded into other domains. Under the New York Smart and Equitable City Plan 2015, digital infrastructure was embedded in the domains of smart buildings and infrastructure; smart transport and mobility; smart energy and environment; smart public health and safety; and smart government and community [88]. All the sectors and strategies within the smart cities concept center on ICT infrastructure, a point on which the authors and the majority of smart city scholars agree (Figure 2).

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Enhance collaboration with academia on R&D and commercialization on

**Figure 2.** Digital infrastructure is the heart of smart city development [89]. **Figure 2.** Digital infrastructure is the heart of smart city development [89].

However, in most private sectors conceptions, due to the propagation and sale of their latest technologies, this digital infrastructure element is explicitly highlighted. In the case of Frost and Sullivan, it is even divided into two different domains: smart technology and smart infrastructure (Figure 3). However, in most private sectors conceptions, due to the propagation and sale of their latest technologies, this digital infrastructure element is explicitly highlighted. In the case of Frost and Sullivan, it is even divided into two different domains: smart technology and smart infrastructure (Figure 3). *Sustainability* **2021**, *13*, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 of 32

> service providers in developing digital infrastructure; enhance internet speed and connectivity; enhance the government's role in facilitating the development of communication infrastructure; enhance indoor and outdoor network coverage; strengthen policies related to personal data protection; and strengthen policies related to cybersecurity. Table 7 illustrates the strategies of the smart digital infrastructure domain and its related citations.

Enhance service provider's role in developing digital infrastructure [8,37,90,91]

Enhance government's role in facilitating the development of communication

**Smart Digital Infrastructure Strategy Reference**

infrastructure [8,70,93]

Enhance internet speed and connectivity [90,92]

Enhance indoor and outdoor network coverage [2,94,95] Strengthen policies related to personal data protection [96–98]

One form of digital infrastructure to attract attention in smart city development is the IoT. Using the internet, the IoT is a network that interconnects ordinary physical objects, such as smartphones, with identifiable addresses to provide intelligent services [101]. In 2021, 35 billion IoT devices were expected to be installed and there were 46 billion connected devices around the world [102]. These numbers, in total, represent more than ten times the size of the world population. Therefore, it could be imagined that it is crucial to tackle the cybersecurity issues that relate to using IoT machines and to address the need for personal data protection as part of living in smart cities. In Malaysia, cybersecurity cases rose by 82.5% between 18 March and 7 April 2020 (838 cases), compared to the same timeframe in 2019 (459 cases) [103]. These cases include some form of cyberbullying; fraud or intruding into an unauthorized system such as phishing and email scams; data breaches and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks on local businesses; and hacking into private video conferencing chats and harassing the participants during the COVID-

To tackle these cybersecurity problems in combination with promoting IoT adoption, in 2015, the National IoT Strategic Roadmap was launched by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, with the national applied R&D center MIMOS Bhd. as the implementation secretariat and with the support of agencies such as Cybersecurity Malaysia [104]. This roadmap targeted the contribution of RM 9.3 billion (about USD 2.2 billion) to the gross national income and the creation of more than 14,000 highly skilled employment opportunities by 2020. In addition, other policies have been initiated, such as

Strengthen policies related to cybersecurity [8,37,89,99,100]

**Figure 3.** Smart city domains [90]. **Figure 3.** Smart city domains [90].

19 movement control period.

**Table 7.** Smart digital infrastructure domain.

In MSCF, smart digital infrastructure has been designated as a separate seventh domain. The smart digital infrastructure strategies include the need to enhance the roles of service providers in developing digital infrastructure; enhance internet speed and connectivity; enhance the government's role in facilitating the development of communication infrastructure; enhance indoor and outdoor network coverage; strengthen policies related to personal data protection; and strengthen policies related to cybersecurity. Table 7 illustrates the strategies of the smart digital infrastructure domain and its related citations.

**Table 7.** Smart digital infrastructure domain.


One form of digital infrastructure to attract attention in smart city development is the IoT. Using the internet, the IoT is a network that interconnects ordinary physical objects, such as smartphones, with identifiable addresses to provide intelligent services [101]. In 2021, 35 billion IoT devices were expected to be installed and there were 46 billion connected devices around the world [102]. These numbers, in total, represent more than ten times the size of the world population. Therefore, it could be imagined that it is crucial to tackle the cybersecurity issues that relate to using IoT machines and to address the need for personal data protection as part of living in smart cities. In Malaysia, cybersecurity cases rose by 82.5% between 18 March and 7 April 2020 (838 cases), compared to the same timeframe in 2019 (459 cases) [103]. These cases include some form of cyberbullying; fraud or intruding into an unauthorized system such as phishing and email scams; data breaches and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks on local businesses; and hacking into private video conferencing chats and harassing the participants during the COVID-19 movement control period.

To tackle these cybersecurity problems in combination with promoting IoT adoption, in 2015, the National IoT Strategic Roadmap was launched by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, with the national applied R&D center MIMOS Bhd. as the implementation secretariat and with the support of agencies such as Cybersecurity Malaysia [104]. This roadmap targeted the contribution of RM 9.3 billion (about USD 2.2 billion) to the gross national income and the creation of more than 14,000 highly skilled employment opportunities by 2020. In addition, other policies have been initiated, such as the National Industry 4.0 policy, the National Cyber Security Policy, and the Malaysia Personal Data Protection Act 2010. MSCF mentioned the need to review and enforce stronger laws, as well as upgrade security systems and procedures in the public and private sectors. In this context, cybersecurity has been identified as a policy to be strengthened in the smart city context.
