KUCHING: Hilmy Othman was sworn in as the eighth Kuching North City Council (DBKU) mayor.
He previously served as Kuching South City Council (MBKS) deputy mayor for seven years.
His appointment as the eighth DBKU mayor is historic, as he is the first individual to be appointed with a background as an MBKS counsellor from 2000 to 2008.
The oathtaking ceremony was witnessed by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki at Wisma Bapa here today.
Hilmy affirmed his commitment to continue working with other city councils to establish Kuching as one cohesive city.
“We cannot act alone. We have to work with other city councils, especially our sister council MBKS, on pertinent issues concerning the city.
“This is essential to ensure that we have similar policies aimed at fostering a balanced society, despite different management and administration under DBKU and MBKS.
He also took the opportunity to express his gratitude towards MBKS mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng and staff who supported him during his tenure at MBKS.
“Given my experience of working under four different mayors under the purview of MBKS, this task is no stranger to me.
“I will put cooperation as a priority to be upheld by myself, and to continue to minimise our differences to make Kuching a greater city,” he added.
Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Sim Kui Hian, Deputy State Secretary (Operations) Datuk Hii Chang Kee, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Chief Political Secretary to the Premier Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and DBKU former mayor Datuk Junaidi Reduan.
