A soul-searching quest

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IMAGINE walking down the streets being warmly greeted by strangers, neighbours getting together for a picnic in the front yard and children playing and running safely around the park and playground.

Such a close-knit community can still be found in the rural areas where people know their neighbours and consider them friends, feel a sense of belonging and look after each other in good and bad times.

And this is what the government is intending to rebuild in Kuching – the good old days and a friendly city with an unbeatable community spirit.

Can we build this friendly and safe city? Just like the saying “There are no strangers here, only friends we have not met.” But how true William Butler Yeats’ quote is depends very much on us.

Often, we hear people talk about a community that is safe for everyone with affordable and accessible services and facilities – and that it values and cares for its environment.

But we also realise that modernisation may have turned us into urbanised work-obsessed people who might have chosen to isolate and alienate ourselves. Then again, there are ways for people to improve what they fear are being lost in Kuching.

The government has expressed the hope that everyone will come together as a community of strangers. As such, one of the local councils – Commission of The City Kuching North (DBKU) – is working on practical plans which will be implemented soon to lead us towards that direction and get people involved in community activities and causes.

 

Social alienation

 

Chief Minister Pehin Seri Abdul Taib Mahmud had on Kuching City Day (Aug 1) this year, asked “what is the soul of Kuching” and challenged the local councils to find the answers.

Concerned that as Kuching grows, the ‘community feel’ of the city might disappear, he entrusted the time-consuming and brain-draining task of preserving the community spirit to the local councils, relying on them to bring out the soul of the city which has been lacking since the millennium.

Taib urged the local councils to revive and further intensify the spirit of harmonious neighbourliness that has been keeping us together as a multi-racial society, assuring the government would provide funding for the endeavour.

In his speech, he described a city without soul as “a city that sprawls out and breeds people with loneliness amidst the crowd – an even a bigger crowd in the future.”

The Chief Minister hoped the local councils could work on their “magic portions” to rekindle our long lost bond – the spirit of an avuncular society – and build “a place where we can all live and not only stay such as Paris.”

 

Soul of Kuching

 

The people is the “Soul of Kuching,” according to Kuching  North City commissioner  Datuk Abang Abdul Wahab Abang Julai.

Datuk Abang Abdul Wahab Abang Julai

“Our communities consist of people of different races, beliefs and creeds. Our ways of life, at some point, still follow the legacies left behind by our historical heroes and cultural personalities who profiled our vibrant identity,” he explained.

But to maintain this vibrancy, he said there was much to be done.

Abdul Wahab, the sixth DBKU commissioner, pointed out that the first step towards giving the city a soul was changing the people’s mindset.

He admitted this could be one of the toughest challenges facing a nation going through rapid transformation.

“Kuching people and all sectors of this society must work together to build the city. It’s the people who can actually give this city a life, a soul.

“It’s important to rekindle the bonds between people to create a positive environment that is welcoming to others. We want to engage citizens who are willing to engage the community.”

Having served with the police for the past 37 years, including 20 years in the intelligence service, Abdul Wahab placed great emphasis on the “humanity approach” in nurturing the soul of the city.

“The experience I gained from my previous profession is very useful for the work I am entrusted with in this office. I believe it’s very important to reach out to the people, listen and understand their problems before working together to find solutions.

“I have encountered many types of cases and situations while in the police force. For instance, the sightings of ‘orang minyak’ in Sungai Petani, Kedah, in 1996 and a family dispute over a durian tree,” he shared.

He also said certain cases could not be dealt with by using the law or enforcement, and the “humanity approach” often produced better results.

In his new job for just three months, Abang Wahab assured he
would maintain the momentum set by the former mayor Mohamad Atei Abang Medaan.Neighbourhood scheme

 

People seem busier these days, having not only to deal with work and home but also keeping up with the Jonese, not forgetting the constant distractions from virtual world.

These factors could perhaps explain why we have neglected to strengthen the bond of neighbourliness built up in the old days, and excluded ourselves from any forms of involvement and connection with our neighbours and the community as a whole.

Abdul Wahab, thus, put forward a proposal to implement the Neighbourhood Scheme, possibly in every residential area in Kuching, in an effort to reconnect the people.

“I’m looking into this scheme where each neighbourhood will be encouraged to form its own committee,” he said.

The scheme, he added, would incorporate many programmes such as landscaping and gardening as well as activities like festive gatherings and community-based contests aimed at engaging the local residents.

“There is a long list of benefits to be accrued. The plan focuses on enhancing the bond among the people, at the same time, allowing ordinary citizens to contribute to the community and nation-building.

“Pushing for active involvement will, in turn, help change the people’s mindset. Having actually put our heads together to work on something could enable people to interact and make them feel they have ownership of a place in this city.

“We want to make people know they are part of this city and that they are important in realising the government’s visions and objectives. Their vibrant identities will determine the soul of our home,” he explained.

Abdul Wahab said gardening, for instance, could help people improve living spaces and make connections, forming bonds in the process.

“We want to engage the people in town planning and beautifying Kuching. It’s important they learn to appreciate their living spaces in order to lead a healthy lifestyle. With a positive attitude, they will be able to look after their surroundings and environment.”

He revealed a total of 51 areas had been identified for the neighbourhood scheme, singling out Kampung Sungai Bedil as an example to emulate.

However, as DBKU is in a midst of reorganisation, Ahdul Wahab said the scheme would only be implemented possibly at end of the year.

 

Leading by example

 

Kampung Sungai Bedi, located opposite the Kuching Waterfront on the other side of Sungei Sarawak, is a progressive community with its Friendly Neighbourhood Committee putting much effort to develop the village and the residents.

“They even have their own cooperatives. The committee also publish a monthly newsletter to inform the people of their progress and upcoming activities.

“This is what we want other neighbourhoods to do. The committee take the lead to engage the residents in their activities. This will encourage them to protect their shared spaces and keep their neighbourhood safe,” Abdul Wahab said.

The village was named Friendly Neighbourhood Exemplary Village in March last year.

The committee work very hard to provide a livable place for the residents there through various activities such as gotong royong, entrepreneurship programmes and ‘Smart Partnerships’ with various agencies.

The federal government has awarded them a piece of land, costing RM50,000, and a fund of RM400,000 to build a community centre.

That aside, the committee together with its Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) have set up Lan Berambeh Cooperative to run the river cruise.

The cruise starts from Sungai Bedil jetty to Kubah Ria, Satok, and offers local traditional delicacies on board while giving tourists the opportunity to enjoy the scenery along the Sarawak River.

This is extra income for the cooperatives and the village as the crew members comprise mainly the local residents.

 

Other plans

 

Setting up a neighbourhood committee is just the first step in the soul-searching journey as the mayor also intends to bring in more programmes to motivate the people to adopt a civic attitude and accept positive changes.

Abdul Wahab suggested running courses to encourage people to value their living spaces and environment, and also give them the opportunity to talk and make connections.

“DBKU spends so much on cleaning and handling waste each year. We want people to practise the 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle). Perhaps, we could conduct a course on decomposition to teach the residents how to manage their waste.”

He also said schools should be encouraged to form nature study groups on the flora and fauna, and start cleaning campaigns for our beaches.

“It’s crucial to inculcate the right culture and habit from a very young age and this can be done in schools.”

PLACE OF ATTRACTION: Abdul Wahab suggests opening the State Legislative Building for guided tours. — Photos by Karen Bong

To promote Kuching, Abdul Wahab suggested opening the State Legislative Assembly Building which sits majestically on the bank of the Sarawak River for guided tours.

“I believe locals and tourists alike are curious to see the magnificent architecture of the complex. The DUN building has tourism values and the government should allow the people to visit it,” he said, adding that the state should make full use of modern and traditional buildings as places of attraction.

 

Wrapping up

 

For changes to take place, the government is relying on the people to act and participate in its programmes. As the saying goes, how can others help you if you don’t help yourself.

It’s important to remind ourselves of the many government initiatives aimed at improving our living standards. Certain plans are in pipeline and will be implemented in time to reach out to the people.

In fact, we cannot expect the government to act alone because it cannot bring about effective development without the people’s participation and reciprocation.

We must get involved in the life of the community to help create a sustainable vibrant city because without the people who constitute it, a community is nothing. In the final analysis, it’s the people in the city who give it life and soul.