KUCHING: A youth council will be set up as part of efforts to attain Unicef-recognised child-friendly and age-friendly city status.
Women, Early Childhood and Community Well-being Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the ministry is working together with the local district education office to identify potential youth to form a council consisting of Sarawakians.
“They could form one body; however, it must be done according to the five municipalities, working together, which would allow us to hear the voices of the youth.
“Thus far the five municipalities are Kuching South City Council (MBKS) , Kuching North City Hall (DBKU), Padawan Municipal Council (MPP), Sibu Municipal Council and Miri City Council, except Bintulu,” she told reporters after officiating the new Salvation Army Community Complex in Kota Samarahan on Saturday (Sept 23).
She added that in order to be a child-friendly city recognised by Unicef, the ministry must ensure the right policies, facilities and programmes are in place.
Currently, Petaling Jaya is the only city in Malaysia that is recognised by Unicef as a child-friendly city.
Fatimah hopes with the youth council’s establishment, youth engagement in Sarawak could further improve.
“To form a council consisting of youth below 18 is important, we need to do a situational analysis. The state government is focused to advance this region and social well-being is a high index.
“Child-friendly cities and age-friendly cities will contribute significantly to the well-being of the community in Sarawak,” she stressed.
She added that Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has emphasised that important efforts be made to achieve this status.
Recently, Fatimah and a delegation from Sarawak visited the city of Feunlabrada, Madrid and three other cities in Helsinki, Hameenlinna and Vantaa, Finland to look into their Child Friendly Cities Initiatives (CFCI).
