Purpose <p>This paper explores the concept of smart citizenship and its role in decision-making, focusing on Malaysia. It argues that smart citizens are active participants in governance, not just users of technologies. The study uses the UMEGA Model to explore how digital governance frameworks can enhance citizen engagement. Factors shaping smart citizen engagement include social influence, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, perceived risks, and facilitating conditions in shaping technology adoption and governance participation.</p> Design/methodology/approach <p>A quantitative approach was used, combining a quantitative survey on citizens’ attitudes and behaviors with a case study on digital governance initiatives in Malaysia.</p> Findings <p>The results show that citizen engagement in digital services is driven more by trust, awareness, and behavioral incentives than by technology availability. E-government adoption in Malaysia is relatively advanced, but challenges in infrastructure and regional disparities in Malaysia lead to uneven implementation of smart governance initiatives.</p> Originality/value <p>The paper also emphasizes the importance of a citizen-centric approach for sustainable smart governance. It argues that citizen behavior, policy responsiveness, and participatory governance models are critical to smart city success. Combining governance theories with technology adoption models, the study proposes a new framework for policymakers and urban planners to enhance citizen engagement in governance.</p>