Malaysia Plans a National Command Centre for Real-Time Monitoring and AI Decision Support

Malaysia is planning a National Command Centre that would give the government a real-time view of developments across the country, supported by artificial intelligence. The Digital Ministry outlined the plan in a written parliamentary reply on 15 October 2026, as reported by The Star.

What the command centre will do

The ministry said the centre is a key part of the Malaysia AI City Initiative, which aims to strengthen existing smart city infrastructure using data and AI, in line with the AI Nation 2030 goal.

According to the reply, the centre will provide:

• A high-level national overview of real-time situations
• Predictive AI analytics and risk forecasting
• Recommended action plans to guide executive decision-making

"Its primary objective goes beyond developing smart cities," the ministry said, adding that it aims to build the government's capacity to observe, understand and anticipate developments nationwide through a unified platform.

From smart cities to AI cities

The initiative follows a directive by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on 10 April this year, calling for a shift from traditional smart city development towards an AI City framework. The ministry stressed that this will not replace ongoing smart city initiatives run by local authorities, but build on them.

To do this, the Digital Ministry is working with the Housing and Local Government Ministry and PLANMalaysia to integrate urban data, legacy systems and municipal operations control centres.

Phase One pilots

Under Phase One, covering 2026 to 2027, proof-of-concept projects will run in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and surrounding areas. They will focus on three areas:

1. Mobility and traffic management
2. Public health
3. Urban sustainability and the circular economy

The ministry also said plans are underway for a National AI Marketplace, a sandbox where industry, academia and government bodies can develop and test AI models using approved, secure datasets.

Key takeaway: the plan positions AI as an advisor, not a decision-maker. The ministry said final authority will stay with government agencies.

Governance and security

The ministry said implementation will be anchored on secure data-sharing protocols. It reaffirmed that AI will act as an advisory and decision-support tool, while final authority and operational responsibility remain with the respective agencies.

This matters because centralising data from many sources raises questions about privacy, security and accountability. Malaysia is also working on an AI governance bill, which we covered in our report on the bill's timeline.

What it means for Malaysians

If the pilots succeed, residents of the Klang Valley could be among the first to notice changes:

1. Traffic management: better use of data could help manage congestion, incidents and public transport.
2. Public health: earlier warning of outbreaks or health risks through combined data sources.
3. City services: more efficient waste management, energy use and urban planning.
4. Privacy questions: citizens will want clarity on what data is collected, how it is protected and who can access it.

For tech companies and startups, the planned AI Marketplace could become a way to test solutions with government data in a controlled environment.

What to watch

Watch for details on which agencies and data sources will be connected first, how privacy safeguards are set up, and what results the Phase One pilots deliver by 2027. The question of how AI recommendations are reviewed and acted on by human officials will be central to public trust.

The plan was disclosed in response to a question from Howard Lee, the MP for Ipoh Timur, about the initiative's objectives and roadmap.