Kuala Lampur, Oct. 30 -- Management consultants have a priority, fees. The consultant's condo does not pay for itself. Nor does his or her year-end winter holiday. Airport parking can be murder.

It's an amazing job where the factor of production is time developing presentation decks. To make sense inside a meeting room to clients.

This is what crossed my mind looking at the proud faces - civil servants representing councils - on stage two days ago as they announced Johor as the country's first smart state. Awards were handed out, and smiles procured. Putrajaya was too busy patting too many heroes on their backs.

Somewhere behind the stage must be an army of consultants rubbing their palms in glee. "If smart state titles excite the clie...