KUCHING: Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) won two prestigious honours at the International Awards for Liveable Communities (LivCom Awards) 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey.
DBKU received the Silver Award in the Whole City category at the awards held from November 18 to 21.
The award is in recognition of major cities with strong, comprehensive planning aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The award highlights DBKU’s excellence in environmental management, inclusive community engagement, and the effective stewardship of arts, culture, and heritage.
The council was also awarded the Bronze Award in the Technological Solutions category through its Darul Hana Musical Fountain Project, an innovation acknowledged for boosting urban attractiveness and supporting community-oriented city development.
Mayor Datuk Hilmy Othman described the achievements as timely and reflective of DBKU’s growing global stature.
“We have successfully participated in international conferences alongside renowned world cities.
“These awards affirm the hard work and commitment of DBKU’s management team, who have long upheld the aspirations of the council and the state government to create a smart, liveable, sustainable, and resilient city,” he said during a press conference at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Monday (Nov 24).
A total of 281 entries from 52 countries, including Italy, China, South Korea, Australia, Kenya, and France, competed at LivCom 2025, and DBKU was shortlisted among 30 global cities for the final evaluation.
Hilmy added that the recognition was the result of the extensive groundwork, including significant investments this year to upgrade the Darul Hana Musical Fountain.
“Our efforts have borne fruit. This award is a testament to the innovation and technological excellence that DBKU continues to pursue,” he said.
DBKU has also been selected as one of five global pilot cities for the World Healthy and Positive Ageing City Project for 2025–2027, following its LivCom success.
The participating cities are: Kuching North City Hall (DBKU), representing Malaysia; Poti, Georgia; Katowice, Poland; Dali Prefecture, China; and Recife, Brazil.
The initiative, led jointly by the International Expert Committee of Active Ageing and the International Institute of Ageing (United Nations–Malta), aims to support cities in designing environments that enable healthy and positive ageing.
DBKU will receive expert guidance and resources as it develops into a demonstration city for innovative ageing-related policies and infrastructure.
Hilmy said the project aligns closely with DBKU’s vision and ongoing commitments.
“This achievement will undoubtedly please Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, whose ministry leads initiatives on women, early childhood, and community well-being.
“We intend to work more closely with her ministry to support and develop age-friendly policies,” he said.
DBKU also recently received the Certificate of Bureaucratic Red Tape Reform (RKB) in conjunction with Sarawak Public Service Day 2025.
The award acknowledges DBKU’s successful implementation of its “Digitalisation of Enforcement: Compound Notice Period Shortened from 30 Days to 1 Day” project, which streamlines the issuance of compound notices through digital transformation.
