KUCHING: The government is continuing to support initiatives driven by the private sector, particularly those that contribute to moving the city forward.
Kuching South Mayor, Datuk Wee Hong Seng said, among the key focus areas is strengthening efforts under the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI), aimed at creating safer, more supportive environments for children.
He said the authorities welcomed the growing involvement of private sector players in realising and enhancing the CFCI framework, describing it as a crucial step to ensuring sustainable urban development.
“When they approached us a few months back, they did request for our support. In actual fact, we are very happy to see the private sector coming in to materialise and further enhance our Child Friendly City Initiative,” said Wee after launching Tiny Fest Borneo 2026 held at Tropics City here, Saturday.
The initiative, however he said, is not a short-term effort.
“These are not things that we do for just a day. You need to have a four-year plan, and every four years, there will be a review of what has been achieved,” he added.
As part of the broader development agenda, Wee also said that the government is focusing on key areas including child-friendly initiatives, community well-being, and Sarawak’s recognition as a City of Gastronomy.
Various programmes aimed at supporting children’s development and welfare are already in place, aligning with the state’s long-term vision.
“For the children’s side, we already have many initiatives in place. That is why we support efforts like this, as it aligns with what we should be doing,” he said.
The government, he said, also emphasised that building a progressive city is a shared responsibility, requiring collaboration beyond the public sector.
“Moving this city forward, we need everyone. It is not only the government. Of course, the government plays an important role, but coordination and implementation can also be driven by the private sector,” he noted.
This collaborative approach is seen as essential in ensuring that development efforts are more dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable.
“This is what we are looking at now, the private sector coming in to support. This city needs everybody to build it. Only then can we truly move forward,” he said.
Meanwhile, he added, amid global economic uncertainties, the government acknowledged that planning and strategies must be continuously reviewed to remain relevant and effective.
“With the current economic uncertainty, everything needs to be re-planned. We must look at short-term measures, assess the impact, and ensure that whatever we implement will help move Sarawak forward,” he added.
While certain projects are still in progress, the government affirmed its readiness to facilitate and support their implementation, while maintaining close monitoring to ensure desired outcomes are achieved.
