SIBU: The Sibu Municipal Council (SMC), in collaboration with the Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC), has established its first Sibu Child Council, with 20 children aged 13 to 16 sworn in on Saturday (Oct 26).
The swearing-in ceremony of Sarawak’s second Child Council was witnessed by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr. Sim Kui Hian at the SMC Public Library here.
According to Dr. Sim, who is also the Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, the Sibu Child Council is the second in Sarawak after Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and the third in Malaysia after Petaling Jaya.
“This (the establishment of the child council) is part of Sarawak’s nation-building. It is not only part of our commitment to the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) Malaysia but also a change of concept.
“We will not only talk about children’s rights, protection, and needs but also their right to speak up and to be heard,” he said at the swearing-in ceremony.
He added that the newly established council would be a platform for the elected child council members to discuss current issues, including mental health, cyberbullying, and more.
He stressed that it is time for all relevant parties to re-evaluate, rethink, and revisit policies by considering, listening to, and discussing the voices of the child council.
“We need to accept the reality that you and I will be gone. I can build a house, but my children might sell the house. But if I build a house that they also contribute to, they probably will not sell it.
“So this is why our city needs to listen, discuss, and consider (their opinion) so that, from a policy point of view, we can shape the city together,” he added.
He also said that with the Sibu Urban Renewal plan in line, it is also timely for the children to contribute their ideas, as by the time it is completed, they will be the ones to benefit from the development.
“These are the potential leaders of Sarawak in the future. Not necessarily in politics — they could be leaders in hospitals, education, universities, banking industries, and more.
“When we asked around, some of them (child council members) are from Kapit and Song. You are actually laying the groundwork not just for Sibu but for the whole central region, and that is what nation-building is all about,” he added.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting, Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang , Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng and SMC Chairman Clarence Ting.
