Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg has urged Kuching’s two city councils—Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) and Kuching South City Council (MBKS)—to take the lead in implementing the Sarawak Sustainable Blueprint 2030. He called on both agencies to align their policies, urban planning, and community programmes with the blueprint’s goals, ensuring that sustainability becomes a central part of the city’s development.
Speaking at the 37th Kuching City Day celebration, in a speech delivered by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, Abang Johari stressed the importance of integrating the blueprint into local initiatives such as low-carbon city development, waste and water management, community education, nature-based solutions, carbon projects, and digital smart city innovations.
Launched in May, the Sarawak Sustainable Blueprint 2030 outlines 10 strategic thrusts, 48 strategies, and 111 action plans designed to transition Sarawak into a green, low-carbon economy. The Premier also encouraged DBKU and MBKS to evolve with the times and embrace digitalisation to better serve the public in today’s connected world.
“They must rethink how they engage with the community, from policymaking to service delivery, and adopt new standards for monitoring and evaluation,” he said.
Abang Johari reminded attendees that local councils are more than administrative bodies—they are frontline agencies delivering essential services such as waste collection, road maintenance, water supply, street lighting, and public safety.
“These may seem minor, but they impact our daily quality of life,” he noted, adding that local governments are uniquely positioned to tailor solutions because they understand community needs more intimately than federal agencies.
He reaffirmed that DBKU and MBKS play a vital role in making Kuching not only liveable but also loveable.
Despite his call for transformation, the Premier also celebrated both councils’ achievements. Kuching currently ranks 10th globally for air quality, with an AQI of just 18, according to IQAir. It was recognised as a Unesco Creative Gastronomy City in 2021, won the ASEAN Clean Tourism City Award for 2024–2026, and recently received the Malaysia Smart City Rating Award.
“These recognitions are a testament to DBKU and MBKS’s efforts. Now, it’s time to take it further—with sustainability and digital transformation leading the way,” Abang Johari said.
