New Kuching North mayor plans to make city both child and elderly friendly

KUCHING: New Kuching North mayor Hilmy Othman plans to strengthen efforts to provide child-friendly and elder care facilities in the city.

He said there was a need to balance the needs of children as well as an ageing society with the right infrastructure.

“We want to emphasise matters related to community wellbeing, for example the safety of children.

“Then we have an ageing society, so we have to look into infrastructure (that blends) the needs of these two segments of society,” he told reporters after being sworn in at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here on Friday (Sept 1).

Hilmy said efforts to make Kuching friendly to children were already under way after Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Unicef on its child-friendly initiative earlier this year.

He noted that other municipal councils in the state, including Kuching South City Council (MBKS), were also working with Unicef on the same initiative.

“We will put greater effort into this and look into setting up a task force, but it’s still at the early stage.

“We will also engage with the relevant ministries and work with them on this issue,” he said.

Hilmy also said DBKU welcomed collaboration with the private sector to provide elder care centres and facilities.

In addition, he said DBKU would work with other councils, particularly MBKS, on similar initiatives and policies.

“With proper planning and strategies, I believe Kuching city will be better in future,” he said.

Hilmy, 64, took his oath of office as the eighth Kuching North mayor in front of Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He was appointed for a two-year term, taking over from Datuk Junaidi Reduan who retired after serving four years as mayor.

Hilmy was previously Kuching South deputy mayor from 2017 until Thursday (Aug 31) and MBKS councillor from 2000 to 2008.