Adenan (centre) with mayors Chan (fourth left) and Wahap (second right) jointly officiating at the opening of the 27th City Day celebration. — Photos by Jeffrey Mostapa
KUCHING: Kuching is so far the first and only city in Malaysia to be proclaimed a ‘City of Unity’ by the 1Malaysia Foundation.
The proclamation was delivered by the foundation’s chairman Dr Chandra Muzaffar during the 27th City Day celebration launched by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem at Stadium Perpaduan in Petra Jaya here yesterday.
The joyful occasion began with performances staged by 54 children, speeches, a video presentation on Kuching being a city of unity, flag-raising for Kuching Festival, the proclamation as well as cultural dances by performers of the Sarawak Cultural Village.
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, a member of the Board of Trustees for 1Malaysia Foundation, said Kuching is the first city in Malaysia and “indeed the whole world to be officially proclaimed as a city of unity.”
“This underscores the importance for all races and ethnic groups to work and live together, to do their best to make this country a truly multi-racial, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural nation,” he said when met by reporters after the opening.
Lee pointed out that the fact that various ethnic groups in Kuching had been able to live in peace and harmony justified the city’s status.
“This is the basis for strengthening the nation, for all Malaysians to realise that it is only through unity that we can bring the nation together.”
He said the foundation had been observing the development in Sarawak in general and the city of Kuching in particular. This brought him to conclude that Kuching had made great progress in not just economic development but also in setting the right example for all Malaysians to emulate.
Lee being interviewed by reporters.
According to Lee, it took the foundation over a year to conduct studies by visiting various places to meet with NGOs and cross-section communities in Kuching to see if the city fulfilled the conditions.
“We look at it from the perspective of how people of different races can be brought together through culture, economic activities, sports and day-to-day interactions. We are able to see for ourselves how the people of Kuching mix and intermingle, and we feel that everywhere we went, there is no doubt about this feeling of harmony and togetherness.”
To a question, he said the idea of ‘City of Unity’ came from Peter Kedit, who is a member of the foundation’s Board of Trustees.
He added that the foundation was convinced that Kuching had met all the criteria to be proclaimed a city of unity following detailed discussions as well as the blessings of Adenan.
“Of course, credit must go to the chief minister because he gave the blessings. The chief minister made a good point in his speech today when he talked about unity in diversity. This is actually one very important ingredient to justify why a city should be declared a city of unity; unity in diversity in terms of races, economic activities, cultural activities and other activities carried out by the people.”
Asked whether other cities in Malaysia would be given the status later, Lee said the foundation would consider doing so. He, however, added the foundation would need time to assess a city to see if it had met all the conditions set.
“We shall wait and see,” he said when asked whether Kuala Lumpur qualified to be proclaimed a ‘City of Unity’.
The 1Malaysia Foundation, according to Lee, is independent and not aligned to the government. “Our job is to go all over the country to promote oneness, togetherness and to promote 1Malaysia – unity in diversity,” he quipped.
He said representatives from Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia made up the foundation’s Board of Trustees.
Meanwhile, Chandra said the foundation noted that Kuching registered a higher rate of inter-marriages compared to other cities in Malaysia while people of Kuching were more sensitive to other communities and their needs.
“Kuching is the best example to reflect the spirit of unity and so it deserves to be declared a city of unity for other cities in Malaysia to learn from.”
He added that the foundation submitted its studies to a panel that consisted of experts who truly understood the situation of Kuching and Sarawak prior to the declaration.
Among those present were Adenan’s wife Datin Patinggi Dato Jamilah Anu, State Legislative Assembly speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar and wife Datin Sri Fatimah Mohd Iskandar, State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Minister of Local Government and Community Development Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Minister of Tourism Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Kuching South City Council Mayor Datuk James Chan and Datuk Bandar of Kuching North City Commission Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai.
Chandra (in wheelchair) reads out the proclamation in the presence of (from left) Wan Junaidi, Abang Johari, Wong, Asfia, Chan, Wahap, Adenan and others.
Performers staging cultural dances.