By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Dec 4: UNICEF Malaysia has praised Kuching South City Council (MBKS) for placing children’s voices at the heart of its planning as it works towards becoming the first city in Sarawak to achieve Child Friendly City status within four years through a comprehensive list of 65 committed actions.
UNICEF Representative to Malaysia Robert Gass said the recognition of MBKS as a Candidate City under the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) marks not the end of a process, but the beginning of a transformative journey to turn plans into meaningful improvements for children living in Kuching South.
“Today is a proud day for Kuching South… but now the bigger task begins: implementation. This is where we move to practice, translating plans into real change in the lives of children,” he said during the recognition ceremony officiated by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian along with Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah and MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng today.
Gass outlined how the process began with a detailed situational analysis involving parents, children, young people, and city staff to understand children’s daily realities. This was followed by workshops with children from various backgrounds, where they validated the findings and highlighted the issues that matter most to them.
Three major concerns emerged: unsafe public areas such as broken streetlights, stray dogs and unrepaired parks, the rising worry over substance abuse including easy access to vapes and cigarettes among youth, and the lack of functional, safe child-friendly spaces.
“The children also offered clear solutions, from fixing broken lights and managing stray dogs humanely, to enforcing vape-free zones and creating well-maintained play areas. These are reasonable requests, and I am proud to say that MBKS listened,” he said.
He emphasised that the 65-action plan launched today was shaped collectively by children, parents, teachers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and government agencies with many of the actions directly inspired by children’s ideas. Each action, he noted, is measurable to ensure transparency and accountability.
Gass also commended MBKS for its longstanding commitment to child-focused development even before entering the CFCI process. Kuching South was the first city in Sarawak to pledge support for the initiative and has since demonstrated leadership through the establishment of a Child Council, study visits to learn from other cities, the introduction of the Sarawak Government Benefit Counter to ease access to family services, and the opening of inclusive facilities such as the Ausome Park for children with autism.
“These are not small steps. They are signs of a council that cares deeply about its community, especially its children,” he said.
As Kuching South moves into the implementation phase, Gass urged MBKS to uphold three key principles: delivering real results that children can feel, ensuring that no child is left behind regardless of background or location, and strengthening meaningful participation by ensuring diverse representation in the Child Council and creating more platforms for young voices to be heard.
He noted that Malaysia will present its progress on children’s rights to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva next January, expressing confidence that Kuching South’s efforts will stand out as an example of tangible progress.
“UNICEF stands with you. We are ready to support, advise, and walk with you as Kuching South strengthens its action plan year by year,” he said.
Gass also extended appreciation to Dr Sim for his consistent support of children’s participation, and to MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng for his leadership and dedication.
“With this level of commitment, I am hopeful and indeed confident that MBKS will deliver even more results. In four years’ time, I hope to stand here again to recognise Kuching South as the first city in Sarawak to be officially declared a ‘Child Friendly City’,” he said.
He concluded by recognising Kuching’s identity as a city of unity and harmony.
“Let us build a city so safe, so inclusive, and so full of opportunity, that when our children look back at this day, they will say: ‘This is where our city’s future began’,” he added. — DayakDaily
