KUCHING: The Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) has announced the addition of two new Friendly Neighbourhoods (KJM) here, namely KJM Jalan Menggeris and KJM Permata Sungai.
Its mayor Hilmy Othman highlighted the primary objective of the KJM, which is to plan and implement events, activities or social programmes that can foster closer relations between residents in each neighbourhood where KJM is established.
“This is established to instil the spirit of ‘sense of belonging’ and ‘ownership’ in every neighbourhood.
“Apart from that, KJM also plays the role as a source of reference to DBKU regarding the neighbourhood’s population information.
“KJM acts as an intermediary that connects residents with DBKU in two-way communication, whether it involves disseminating information from DBKU to residents or giving feedback from residents to DBKU.
He said this during the Friendly Neighbourhood (KJM) dinner at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building here last night (Feb 7).
Additionally, he added that discussions are underway to establish Kuching Old Town as one of the Friendly Neighbourhoods under DBKU.
He said if realised, it will include the Main Bazaar, Gambier Street, Carpenter Street, India Street, and Kai Joo Lane under KJM.
“This is as an effort to involve the local business community to be involved with the development that has been carried out in the Kuching Waterfront area. God willing, this effort will be mobilised and realised this year,” he said.
Since its establishment in 2001, the DBKU Friendly Neighbourhood Programme, a voluntary committee serving neighbourhoods in villages or housing estates, has shown steady growth. Starting with just seven KJM in 2001, the programme has expanded to include 51 KJM to date.
Also present at the event were Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and his wife Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environment Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, and Satok assemblyman Datuk Ibrahim Baki.
