Penang is looking to widen its use of artificial intelligence (AI) through a collaboration with the Global Environmental Centre Foundation in Osaka, Japan, The Vibes reported, a move state executive councillor Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo describes as the state’s first step in applying AI to sustainability as climate pressure builds.
The announcement followed the opening of the two-day Penang Green Summit 2026 on 12 November at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre, which carries the theme “AI for Sustainability” and is organised by the Penang Green Council with the Penang Island City Council and Seberang Perai City Council, Buletin Mutiara, the state government’s news portal, wrote.
The council exchanged a memorandum of understanding with the Osaka foundation at the opening, covering integrated waste management, environmental education and joint research to strengthen urban resilience. Council chief executive Josephine Tan signed for Penang, while foundation executive director Takuya Kitatsuji signed for the Japanese body.
“Japan is rather advanced in sustainable initiatives. We can learn from them, especially on how to incorporate AI into measures to fight climate change,” Sundarajoo said, adding that AI could also be worked into the traffic light system to ease the state’s worsening congestion.
Sundarajoo, who chairs the council and holds the housing and environment portfolio, said the gathering was a chance to test how AI can support sustainability work beyond Penang.
“Penang’s journey has followed a clear evolution, from commitment to action and now to accountability,” he told delegates, noting that the technology has advanced so quickly that “it sometimes becomes very scary because it has overtaken natural intelligence”.
Organising chairwoman Tan Soo Siang said the summit brings together 27 speakers, about 200 delegates, 48 exhibition booths and 40 participating companies, with more than 2,000 participants expected across panel discussions and four workshops.
Two other items were presented at the opening. Alliance Bank handed over a state environmental, social and governance report titled “Navigating ESG in Penang: Insights from SMEs”, compiled from the experience of small and medium enterprises. Dr Aaron Sum Wei Wern presented it to Sundarajoo, who said the document offers a picture of how local firms are responding to those expectations and the practical hurdles they face.
Gamuda also launched a book on the state’s trees, “Discovering Trees in Penang”, known as Buku Pokok, presented by SRS LRT project director Datuk Adil Putra.
In a video address, Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Steven Sim said small businesses are steadily taking up AI, and that Malaysians need the knowledge, infrastructure and safeguards to use it responsibly.
Sundarajoo also pointed to the state’s plan to ban single-use plastic bags outright and replace them gradually with biodegradable plastics, which are widely available.
