KUCHING: Kuching has secured the bid to host the Unesco Creative Cities of Gastronomy Conference in 2026.
Kuching South City Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the bid, which was won last month, saw Kuching competing against Turkiye and the voting took place in Mexico.
“We have to know we are fighting against Turkiye and the voting was in Mexico. Yet, Kuching succeeded and won the bid,” he said in his speech during the council’s annual dinner, officiated by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian here on Sunday (Dec 14).
Previously in September, Wee said the city’s bid to host the conference is aimed at showcasing Kuching’s distinctive culinary heritage while further strengthening its standing as a global gastronomic destination.
Meanwhile, Wee said the council will continue prioritising efforts to enhance municipal services, including response time, cleanliness operations, park maintenance and enforcement.
To support these efforts, a dedicated QR code was launched to gather public feedback through questionnaires, enabling the council to further improve service delivery.
“We will expand smart city initiatives and digital services to ensure greater convenience, security and accessibility for all,” he said.
Wee also outlined several key focus areas as the city moves towards 2026, including strengthening inclusivity through initiatives such as Ausome Park, Bank Sampah, Child-Friendly Cities and Age-Friendly Cities.
In addition, he said the council will support economic growth by ensuring Kuching South remains clean, stable and business-friendly, while also investing in internal capacity-building through training, leadership development and teamwork.
“If we want greater achievements, we must grow together and raise our standard of excellence even higher,” he added.
Touching on recent achievements, Wee said MBKS received two Special Mention Awards at the PLANMalaysia and Malaysian Institute of Planners MyPLACE Awards 2025 for Kuching Park and the rejuvenation of Kenyalang Park.
He added that the council was also honoured with the JCI Sustainable Development Award under SDG 12 for the Bank Sampah Programme, while becoming the first council in Sarawak and Borneo to be recognised by UNICEF as a Candidate City under the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative.
Other state-level accolades include the Anugerah PBT Mesra OKU for Ausome Park.
He said the achievements reflected MBKS’s commitment to innovation and inclusivity, and credited strong teamwork across departments for the council’s continued success.
