By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, March 7: Kuching’s creative scene has been revitalised as the four-day Citrawarna Keluarga Malaysia 2022 event concludes in the city.
During Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s speech at the event, he lauded Kuching’s designation as a Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy, describing it as a “boon for the nation”, bringing international recognition, promoting local arts and culture, and boosting tourism.
According to Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor, Dato Wee Hong Seng, the designation is a recognition of Kuching’s incredible gastronomic culture and its role as a feeder city for the rest of the State.
“This designation is not just an award for good food. Rather, it is a recognition of the government and the municipality’s commitment to growing our gastronomic and creative sectors towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.
Wee went on to say that the designation is directly related to the State government’s goal of making Sarawak a place of economic prosperity, social inclusion, and sustainability.
“Sarawakians are enormously creative people, and we can use this as a basis for providing a bright future for all our communities. This membership will support all the creative fields through a highly cooperative framework,” Wee stated.
The mayor mentioned that the State government has committed to a four-year action plan to expand infrastructure, build capacity, embed technology, create outreach, raise awareness, and increase income for creative players.
“Driven by our two councils and by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts (MTCP), it will feature programmes that run from improving education to raising our domestic standards in health and hygiene.
“MBKS, for example, will be extending and expanding its programmes to raise its markets and hawker centres to icons of modern sustainable practice,” he added.
According to Wee, the plan also aims to position Sarawak as a global highlight for gastronomic tourism, using its food culture to support responsible and community-driven initiatives.
“A dedicated gastronomy centre in Jalan Padungan will link into this heritage food street. We will also be working on our ‘Pride of Sarawak’ campaign that will put Sarawak products on the map,” the mayor said. — DayakDaily
