KUCHING: Sarawakians are urged to embrace a civic-minded culture and shift their mindset to ensure Sarawak becomes a high-income, advanced state by 2030.
Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63, Federal-State Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, said areas under the management of Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) require community planning and effort to remain clean, beautiful, and safe.
“When we look at the areas under DBKU’s management, we realise that they wouldn’t become clean, beautiful, and safe on their own.
“As a community, we must plan and strategise to maintain the cleanliness, beauty, and safety of our neighbourhoods and villages.
“Efforts like this require us to change the mindset of our people, and we cannot stick to the status quo; we need a shift in thinking.
“This change must start with young children and continue into adulthood,” she said in her speech at the Hi-Tea Ceremony for the 3K Competition (Cleanliness, Beauty, and Safety) organised by DBKU here yesterday (Dec 18).
She added environmental sustainability, a key pillar of Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), emphasises educating people from a young age to care for the environment and embrace new habits and programmes like DBKU’s competition that highlights community collaboration in making Kuching clean, beautiful, and safe, with DBKU playing a crucial role in the city’s development and administration.
“Therefore, programmes like this competition show us how to work together under DBKU’s leadership to create a clean, beautiful, and safe Kuching.
“DBKU is vital to Sarawak’s administration and development, particularly in Kuching, where it strategises to make the city better for everyone.
“For Sarawak and Kuching to become advanced, clean, beautiful, and prosperous, we must change our mindset.
“Advanced countries are clean and beautiful because their people have a strong sense of civic responsibility.
“They don’t litter or take flowers from public spaces, and they care for their surroundings. This is the mindset we want for our people,” she added.
Commenting on the programme, she said it serves as an essential platform to educate the community, especially the younger generation, about the importance of creating a clean, beautiful, and safe environment.
“This is a significant initiative by DBKU to make Kuching a beautiful and liveable city.
“Such efforts must be continued and intensified each year as they help instil and nurture awareness among urban residents about the importance of cultivating cleanliness and beautification practices in their villages and housing areas.
“In addition, it provides recognition and encouragement to homeowners to assist local authorities in enhancing the beauty, cleanliness, and landscaping quality of Kuching City,” she expressed.
DBKU Mayor Datuk Hilmy Othman was also present at the event.
