Move towards a healthy city
KUCHING: The Sarawak government is embarking on a journey to meet the expectations of city dwellers while adopting the concept of a ‘healthy city’.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the journey would, however, not be a walk in the park due to various challenges and politicking.
“While the journey is not easy, the path ahead is clear. We have to find ways and means to overcome obstacles and politics and get into the business of healthy living,” said Abang Johari at the opening of the 8th Alliance For Healthy Cities (AFHC) Global Conference and General Assembly 2018 held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) yesterday.
He also outlined the key areas that need emphasis when it comes to the implementation of the healthy city concept in Kuching.
Over the years, the state government has planned Kuching City to be a competitive and healthy city which is vital for economic progress as it attracts investments, talents and a desire to make life better for everybody.
“Kuching has grown to be a big and thriving city in Sarawak that it is today through the foresight and efforts of my predecessors,” he added.
However, the challenge for the present Sarawak government, he pointed out, is to elevate Kuching City to the next level of development.
“We are now coming to the limits of city development as presented by existing infrastructure of Kuching City. The existing public transport system consisting of buses, taxis and private cars is beginning to create regular traffic jams at particular junctions and times, a situation which is stressful because we are not used to traffic jams of any form here,” he added.
For the future growth of Kuching City, he said the government needs to rethink the city’s public transport system.
“We may need to introduce the bus rapid transit (BRT) and the light rail transit (LRT). The idea is not only to solve existing traffic problems but to prepare the basic infrastructure of the city for significant growth in the coming years, with a doubling of its population and growth of its economy,” he added.
A good public transport system, he said, will allow efficient connectivity of integrated wholesome townships. Each township, he added, shall be self-contained and provide proper housing for ordinary people made affordable with the support of good jobs and business opportunities to achieve a good standard of living.
“Integrated wholesome townships are a more balanced approach to ensuring that housing is affordable for ordinary people,” he highlighted.
On another note, Abang Johari said the healthy city concept also emphasised on the need for urbanites to live a balanced life by eating well, exercising frequently and having a good sleep.
The clear attractions to urban life, he added, are jobs and money which allow people to buy many services, which have caused many urban dwellers to work long hours, sacrificing their health.
He pointed out that healthy living in the city should be the ambition for both successful city dwellers and those who are discarded by economics.
“We therefore enter a world that is not entirely economics or business. We have to deal with the social aspects of city design and the organisation of social groups who provide critical but invisible services to the needy in urban centres,” he added.
Also speaking at the opening was State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani, who welcomed the local and foreign delegates made up of city planners, councillors and health experts to the AFHC 2018 which will be held until Oct 20 at the BCCK.
“I am also honoured that Kuching City has been recognised by receiving the WHO Regional Director’s award in 2004 for being an outstanding healthy city,” said Morshidi, who is also chairman of the main organising committee.
Also present at the opening ceremony were Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, State Assembly speaker Datuk Amar Awang Asfia Awang Nassar, World Health Organisation (WHO) Western Pacific Region regional director Dr Shin Young-soo, World Health Organisation (WHO) representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore head of mission Dr Lo Ying-Ru Jacqueline, Alliance for Healthy Cities steering committee chairperson Scarlett Pong, Alliance for Healthy Cities secretariat head Dr Keiko Nakamura and Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato James Chan Khay Syn.