KUCHING: The Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) has designated May as the reading month for areas under its jurisdiction every year, starting this year.
Deputy Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications cum Pantai Damai assemblyman, Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, said this recognition is a step to empower a knowledgeable society while fostering a culture of reading among the community, especially in the Kuching area.
He emphasised that this effort will be aligned with close cooperation with school management, starting from the primary level up to higher education institutions under DBKU’s administration.
“Therefore, starting from 2024, DBKU will designate May this year and in the future as the reading month for all city residents under DBKU’s jurisdiction to become a common practice.
“This initiative begins as early as possible by emphasising kindergarten students, encouraging collaborative efforts at home and school to ensure reading becomes a regular activity or programme throughout the year,” he said.
He stated this in his speech while inaugurating the DBKU Reading Month 2024 at Sekolah Kebangsaan (A) Datuk Abdul Kadir Hassan here today.
He added that this effort aligns with the Sarawak government’s vision to provide free education to local children entering higher education by 2026.
To enhance DBKU’s reading campaign, Dr Abdul Rahman mentioned that DBKU is ready to collaborate with school management to implement programmes related to strengthening reading habits in the community.
“We support the recommendation for close cooperation with DBKU, whether in terms of suggestions from discussions that could benefit students to be held at schools or DBKU in the future,” he said.
Meanwhile, he emphasised that DBKU is also committed to making its administrative area a ‘Child-Friendly City.’
He said this effort will be strengthened through close cooperation between DBKU and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to ensure child-friendly facilities can be achieved.
He also expressed support for the establishment of a Children’s Council where children are given the space to represent and voice their needs under DBKU’s administration. Also present was Hilmy Othman, mayor of DBKU.
