KUCHING: Six local authorities in Sarawak have been officially recognised as Candidate Cities under the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) at a ceremony held here on Sunday.

The recipients of the recognition are Kuching North City Commission (DBKU), Miri City Council (MBM), Padawan Municipal Council (MPP), Sibu Municipal Council (SMC), Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) and Bintulu Development Authority (BDA).

Meanwhile, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) had earlier received the same recognition in December 2025.

Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian said that out of more than 200 local authorities nationwide, only 11 have been identified as candidates under the UNICEF CFCI, with seven of them from Sarawak.

“Congratulations to all Sarawakians. Having seven out of the 11 candidates is a good start.

“Through this initiative, we do not want Sarawak to merely meet local standards, but to aspire towards international benchmarks,” he said when speaking at the ceremony.

The Sarawak Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government expressed confidence that Sarawak has the potential to go beyond international standards through its own approach.

According to him, the recognition is not merely an administrative achievement for local authorities, but forms part of the broader agenda in shaping Sarawak’s progress towards becoming a developed state.

The ceremony featured the signing of recognition plaques for the six local authorities as CFCI Candidate Cities, as well as the handover of the CFCI Action Plans by mayors and council chairpersons to the presidents and representatives of their respective Children’s Councils.

Also present were Sarawak Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah and UNICEF Malaysia Deputy Representative Sanja Saranovic. -UKASnews

Prepared By: Nur Nabilla
Photo: Ibanez Jeffery Guang
Translator: Ravinraj