BY ALEXANDRA LORNA & JAMES WONG
KUCHING: The Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) has been chosen as one of the four pioneer cities for the development of the new generation Green City Action Plans (GCAP), according to Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Located at the periphery of Kuching City, which is experiencing rapid development, PMC faces environmental challenges such as infrastructure damage, waste management, and flooding. Dr Sim highlighted the need for the formulation of the GCAP to address these issues and minimise the harmful effects of human activity on the environment, while preserving natural resources.
“The GCAP will result in programmes and initiatives for PMC that aim to enhance the quality of life while reducing environmental impact,” Dr Sim said during the launching of the Kuching City (PMC) Level Capacity Building Workshop on GCAP at Riverside Majestic Hotel yesterday.
“The GCAP provides a comprehensive assessment of urban issues, climate change vulnerability, and climate change impacts on various urban sectors,” Dr Sim added, mentioning areas such as land use and development, water supply, sewerage and stormwater drainage, transport, solid waste, street lighting, energy, and buildings.
Highlighting the state government’s commitment to transforming the state into a sustainable green city, Dr Sim said that local councils, including PMC, need to align their planning with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) KPIs by 2030.
As the selected focal local council, PMC, under the leadership of the new Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Councillors, and staff, will collaborate closely with appointed consultants, the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) Sarawak, and the Ministry of Public Health, Local Government, and Housing (MPHLG) for the formulation of the GCAP.
“We are fully committed to supporting the implementation of our GCAP. By decarbonising our cities, towns, and industries, we will unlock new markets, investment opportunities, and create green jobs,” Dr Sim affirmed.
