Sarawak Strengthens Urban Development Guided By Local Values
KUCHING: Urban development in Sarawak must be strategically planned by balancing economic progress, technological advancement, environmental sustainability and the preservation of local culture and heritage to ensure development that meets the needs of the people.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Hui Kian said Sarawak can develop cities that meet international standards without compromising local values, culture and identity.
According to him, urban development should not rely entirely on approaches adopted overseas but must instead be tailored to Sarawak's circumstances, needs and unique characteristics.
“We aim for international standards, but that does not mean every approach implemented internationally is necessarily suitable for us,” he said during the closing ceremony of the Sarawak Urban Forum 2.0 at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre (HEEC) here on Tuesday.
He said well-planned urban development must take into account the wellbeing of residents, including quality of life, economic prosperity and the use of technology to support community needs.
Furthermore, he emphasised that while technological advancements could be leveraged to support urban development, their implementation must go hand in hand with efforts to preserve the environment, local heritage and culture.
Datuk Amar Dr Sim stressed that this approach is essential to ensure urban development in Sarawak is not merely focused on modernisation, but also reflects the state’s identity and addresses the long-term needs of its residents.
He also underscored the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in the planning and execution of urban development, ensuring every initiative is tailored to local requirements.
Also present were Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Project Coordinator for Regional Development Agencies, DBKU and Islamic Affairs) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) Mayor Dato Hilmy Othman, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Sarawak (MPHLG) Datu Elizabeth Loh and Kuching Division Resident Dayang Joanita Azizah Abang Morshidi. -UKASnews
