KUCHING: A 25-acre green lung in the city will be transformed into a bamboo garden as part of the city’s efforts to preserve urban greenery and promote sustainable landscaping.
Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) Mayor, Datuk Hilmy Othman, said the initiative, launched in conjunction with the 38th Kuching City Commemoration Day, also supports the Sarawak Government’s aspiration to strengthen the bamboo industry and advance sustainable development.
He said the area along Jalan Crookshank will be gazetted as an open space for Kuching and developed into the city’s first urban bamboo garden and gallery, providing a dedicated space for various bamboo species.
“As a start, we are planting 10 bamboo species, with more varieties expected to be introduced in collaboration with PUSAKA,” he told reporters after officiating the soft launch of the Bamboo Gallery and Garden at Jalan Crookshank here today.
Hilmy said the project aims to cultivate greater appreciation for urban greening amid rapid urbanisation while preserving the city’s green spaces.
Developed by DBKU in collaboration with the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), the project supports the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which emphasises the green economy, natural resource conservation and the development of green, liveable and sustainable cities.
He said the Bamboo Gallery and Garden will be implemented in two phases.
The first phase will focus on establishing the bamboo garden, complete with a bamboo species collection, parking facilities, a playground, an outdoor gym and other visitor amenities.
The second phase will see the development of the bamboo gallery and supporting infrastructure, including pedestrian walkways, activity spaces and a nursery, to strengthen its role as a centre for conservation, education, research and recreation.
He said the idea stemmed from a study visit to Kyoto, Japan, in 2024, where DBKU drew inspiration from the city’s successful integration of bamboo into its urban landscape.
According to Hilmy, the visit also provided valuable insights into river management, which have inspired DBKU’s plans for the Bintangor River, while Kyoto’s extensive bamboo planting demonstrated how the species could enhance the greenery of a modern city.
“We have since been in contact with Kyoto City with the intention of establishing a Friendly Cities relationship and implementing several urban greening initiatives that have been introduced there,” he said.
He added that bamboo has significant downstream economic potential, noting that in Kyoto it is widely used not only in landscaping but also in cottage industries and the production of everyday consumer goods.
He said the collaboration with PUSAKA will not only expand the variety of bamboo species planted in the city but also help promote the development of Sarawak’s bamboo industry.
Meanwhile, he said this year’s 2026 Kuching Light and Floral Festival will feature a much larger decorative lighting display, with about one-third of the Botanical Garden illuminated.
He said the display will be around 20 times larger than the previous showcase held at Pustaka, making the Botanical Garden a more suitable venue for the expanded exhibition.
