Proposal for Kuching to have one mayor

KUCHING: Appointing only one mayor for this city was one of the ideas raised during the two-day ‘City of Unity' workshop – one that should be given due consideration.

According to 1Malaysia foundation chairman Dr Chandra Muzaffar, several groups had suggested having one Kuching city mayor, which was something the state could not brush aside, especially in aiming for Unesco's recognition of Kuching as a ‘City of Unity'.

“We should study it because the implementation might face certain challenges. But we cannot avoid it, because the matter of two mayors here is odd. Some parties will question it, especially if we want Unesco to recognise Kuching as a ‘City of Unity'.”

Kuching North Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai was all for the idea.

In his speech, he said that the existing local authorities such as Kuching City North Council (DBKU), Kuching City North Council (MBKS) and Padawan Minicipal council (MPP) could be maintained, but under the administration of one Kuching Mayor.

“The post of Kuching Mayor can be fixed at two terms; (get one first) and then, another one is appointed. We can rotate it so that every ethnic group gets representation,” he spoke at the closing of the workshop at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak yesterday.

Abang Abdul Wahap also proposed for the post of Kuching Mayor to be given a high status, allowing them to represent the Head of State at official events.