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By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Sept 1: New Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) mayor Hilmy Othman looks forward to cooperating with Kuching South City Council (MBKS) to further elevate Kuching towards greater heights.
Hilmy said as one of the local government authorities, DBKU should not act as a solitaire on a lot of matters.
“I think that we have to work with other city councils, especially with the sister city council MBKS, so that we can have similar policies to make Kuching in a manner that we feel it is one city even though it is governed by two city councils,” he told a press conference after the swearing-in ceremony as DBKU mayor held at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.
The swearing-in ceremony was witnessed by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg with State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki.
Hilmy is the eighth DBKU mayor, taking over from Datu Junaidi Reduan. He was previously the deputy mayor for MBKS and has about 11 years of experience as a city council member.
He also had the opportunity to work with four MBKS mayors, namely Chan Seng Khai, Chong Ted Tsiung, Datuk James Chan Kay Syn, and current mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng.
Meanwhile, Hilmy said that as the new mayor of DBKU, he will continue the efforts of the previous mayor with some changes in certain matters.
He also said that he would focus on balancing the society structures, namely to make Kuching a children-friendly city and provide the right infrastructures for the ageing society.
“Efforts have been taken with our staff together with MBKS mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, Miri City Council (MCC) mayor Adam Yii Siew and Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development and its minister Dato Fatimah Abdullah to look into certain matters involving this two matters.
“We are also looking forward to the private sector to participate in our efforts,” he added.
Also present were Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is also Minister for the Ministry of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government and other distinguished guests. — DayakDaily
