SIBU: The Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to establish Sibu as a Child Friendly City here today.
Sibu becomes the fifth location in Sarawak to enter into an agreement with UNICEF on the Child Friendly City initiative.
The other four are Miri, Kuching South, Kuching North and Padawan. Nationwide, Petaling Jaya is the first city to be a Child Friendly City.
According to the 2020 Census, 20.9 percent of Sibu’s population are children below the age of 14 years.
Chief of UNICEF Malaysia Social Policy, Dr. Juanita Vasquez Escallon, said as a child-friendly city, Sibu would improve children’s lives by having safer neighbourhoods, efficient school and health systems and enhanced infrastructure for the community.
“Through this journey to become a Child Friendly City, Sibu will transform into a city where every child enjoys every right, and no one is left behind.
“It is our sincere hope that this initiative will play a catalytic role in Sarawak’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030,” She said at the MoU signing on Monday (August 14).
Meanwhile, SMC chairman Clarence Ting said in creating a child-friendly city, the council would embark on various aspects, including urban planning, infrastructure and community engagement.
“By embarking on this journey, we want to build a Sibu where children have a good start in life, grow up feeling safe and cared for, and have opportunities to express their opinions and influence decisions on issues that affect them.
“We are still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic and movement control order. This initiative will ensure we build back better,” he added.
Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Michael Tiang said the concept of Child-Friendly Cities initiatives is not just an idealistic vision, but a practical necessity.
“By fostering environments that put children’s needs at the forefront, we are not only shaping the future of our cities but also the future of our society.
“Let us work together to build Sibu town that is truly worthy of our children’s dreams. Let us envision Sibu to become a town where every child has the opportunity to flourish, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances,” he added.
