BUILDING JOHOR'S TOMORROW: LEADING THE FUTURE OF SMART CIRCULAR CITIES
BY DATUK SR AHMAD AHMAD
The future of urban development has moved beyond linear cities; we are progressing towards circular cities, where advances in artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and connectivity support a new wave of sustainable digital cities. This robust ecosystem is part of the vision for Johor Smart City 2030. Government initiatives have provided the foundation for these advancements, positioning Johor as a frontrunner and a regional leader in sustainable urbanisation.
Defining circular cities
As cities worldwide face growing urban congestion, resource depletion, and environment fragmentation, it is vital to fortify the southern engine of Malaysia’s growth. We must embrace circular city planning as a new tool for sustainable urbanisation.
Circular cities prioritise resilience by taking a holistic approach to sustainability, reducing urban sprawl and minimising environmental impacts. They drive innovation by designing thoughtful infrastructure and digital solutions harnessing the power of AI, IoT, and big data. The circular city approach is expected to yield over RM 30 trillion in economic benefits globally by 2050 and is now gaining traction in Malaysia, driven by strategic public-private collaboration and digitalisation.
“Circularity is the way forward. We must move from traditional models to design cities that close resource loops and foster economic, social, and environmental benefits,”
Turning Johor's circular ambitions into reality
For circular cities to move beyond theory, it must be driven by real-world implementation. Johor’s IBTEC, the region’s flagship circular sandbox city, comes into effect.
Aligned with Malaysia’s national digital and sustainability goals, IBTEC will deliver policy, innovation, and infrastructure integration to address new economic and societal needs underpinned and governed by a circular ecosystem where outputs from one stage fuel another.
With more than RM2 billion in strategic investments already committed, including data centres, life science campuses, and logistics and supply chains (IEE), the circular approach is operationalised by data capture to close resource loops, reduce waste, and drive business efficiencies.
IBTEC further stands as a prestigious development, meticulously designed to attract global businesses. Being a digital-centric, smart, and circular city, it sets new standards and offers a dedicated living area through 24/7 security, amenities, and private tenures. Featuring the best schools, parks, and townships thoughtfully connected to corridors and enhanced mobility networks.
“At JCorp, we balance commercial value with societal impact, and this requires cross-sector collaboration.”
Datuk Sr Ahmad Ahmad
Catalysing circular partnerships
No single entity can navigate the journey to circularity alone; collaborative innovation is key. In IBTEC and Johor, we are:
Building private-public-academic consortia to commercialise R&D outcomes.
Engaging multinationals and global partners to deliver sustainable design, energy, and waste management solutions.
Empowering start-ups to scale digital platforms through incubator support and sandboxes.
Integrating state-of-the-art digital twin technologies to futureproof infrastructure and enable proactive urban management.
Enabling inclusive urbanisation
We believe that circular cities — projects such as IBTEC, Johor, and those in the wider region — will anchor sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready urbanisation for the benefit of all. The journey to circularity not only strengthens business competitiveness but delivers tangible outcomes to residents, workers, and communities.
Johor is setting the benchmark for the future of smart, circular cities in Malaysia and the wider region. By aligning digital, policy, and investment strategies, we are paving the way for transformative growth, sustainability, and social wellbeing.
About the author
Datuk Sr Ahmad Ahmad is director of the real estate and circularity division at JCorp and group managing director of JLand Group
Extracted from The Edge Malaysia ( July 21-27,2025)
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