BY NEVILLE TIMOTHY SANDERS & NATASHA JEE
KUCHING: Recent findings under the Malaysian Urban Indicators Network (MURNInet) showed that Sarawak’s city councils have achieved 67 per cent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets compared to the national average of 57 per cent, while municipal councils recorded 60 per cent, well above the national 46 per cent.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said local councils in Sarawak are setting the bar higher than the national average when it comes to achieving the SDGs.
“This shows Sarawak’s standards are higher than the national level, and I thank all our local councils, councillors, and chairmen for making the state proud,” he said in his speech during the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) office complex here today, officiated by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Dr Sim stressed that Sarawak’s achievements reflect the Premier’s vision of sustainability, low-carbon growth and a green economy, which are central to the Sarawak SDG Roadmap and Sustainable Building 2030 initiatives.
The new PMC building, he added, will be certified under the Green Building Index (GBI), complementing other GBI-certified government landmarks such as the Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) headquarters, the Borneo Cultures Museum, University of Technology Sarawak in Sibu, and the Premier’s Office.
Dr Sim also said the development of new council buildings across Sarawak, including for Miri City Council (MCC), Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC), Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS), and Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) ensures that local authorities no longer have to “squat” in unsuitable premises or borrowed buildings.
“These new buildings are not just offices for administrative functions like paying assessments, licences, or fines.
“They are envisioned as community hubs with facilities such as auditoriums, rooftop gardens, open theatres, and spaces where residents can gather for celebrations, markets, and other activities,” he said.
Meanwhile, PMC chairman Tan Kai described the RM70 million project as a flagship under the Padawan Green City Action Plan (GAP), marking a key milestone in the council’s sustainability journey.
“In line with Sarawak’s Sustainable Blueprint, which requires all new government buildings from 2025 onwards to incorporate green features, the new complex is designed to achieve GBI certification,” he said.
He added the office will integrate energy-efficient systems, rainwater harvesting, passive cooling and sustainable materials, with provisions for rooftop solar panels where feasible.
“A GBI-certified building is more than a symbol, it is a statement of our values environmental stewardship, resource efficiency, and climate resilience,” he added.
