{"id":19997,"date":"2023-02-08T01:16:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-07T17:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rakansarawak.com\/v3\/?p=19997"},"modified":"2023-02-10T09:59:16","modified_gmt":"2023-02-10T01:59:16","slug":"mbkss-long-term-approach-in-environmental-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rakansarawak.com\/v3\/2023\/02\/08\/mbkss-long-term-approach-in-environmental-sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"MBKS\u2019s Long-term Approach in Environmental Sustainability<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Over the past years, Majlis Bandaraya Kuching Selatan<\/em> (MBKS) has been turning some areas across Kuching South into open spaces and parks<\/a> for its residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Green Space projects are among the council\u2019s notable initiatives for communities under its jurisdiction that focus on environmental sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They involve establishing at least one open space or park annually, as well as enhancing or maximising the utilisation of existing ones sustainably for social, recreational, and physical activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These open spaces or parks will eventually be linked to one another<\/a>, whether via bicycle tracks or pedestrian walks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To date, MBKS has developed 227 acres of land into 210 parks. Compared to the total surface area in Kuching South, 0.9188 sq km of which is made up of green spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most recent was an urban regeneration project, whereby three sites at Kenyalang Park Housing Estate \u2013 its traffic garden, recreation garden and green open spaces \u2013 had been upgraded.<\/p>\n\n\n

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A section of Traffic Garden at Kenyalang Park Housing Estate<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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A visual explanation of the Traffic Garden Expansion and Community Rejuvenation Programme by MBKS<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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The revamped public toilet at Traffic Garden, named Kenyalang De Stijl Toilet, utilises a smart lighting system to provide public safety and awareness<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Commenced in November 2020 and completed a year later, it was undertaken to improve the local community\u2019s quality of life by conserving the area\u2019s natural environment, boosting accessibility, and enhancing the open spaces\u2019 functionality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifically, the rejuvenation project, as described by the council, consisted of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Providing cohesive open spaces with removal of unnecessary fencing, introduction of connectors (pergola) and inclusion of open spaces into a larger park system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Improving pedestrian network system with the introduction of entrance pavilions at entry point and pedestrian bridge, integration of connectors with existing footpaths and better connectivity beyond the site.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Enhancing space usage pattern with provision of open spaces for public and local community activities; play area featuring a playground and play structures as an extension of the existing games court; as well as open ground for active usage and soft landscape (vegetable garden strip, local fruit orchard) for passive usage. The project also re-establishes Traffic Garden and Recreation Garden as a community education hub through the revival of traffic games and introduction of an urban farming centre.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Upgrading of existing facilities and amenities, such as:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Revamp toilet to complement a new drop-off point extended from car park and featuring a rooftop greenhouse for hydroponic farming as part of the urban farming centre;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Renovate sheds to use for bicycles and shelter for visitors;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Renovate caretaker\u2019s quarter to re-adapt for park offices, security centre and a canteen on the ground floor;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Extend petrol kiosk to provide shade areas for storage and preparation of composts for the urban farming centre and to promote organic farming; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Revamp bandstand to function as open pavilion for talks, briefings and social gatherings.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    For MBKS mayor YBhg Dato Wee Hong Seng, efforts to develop or upgrade parks in Kuching South is partially driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which people have been more aware of the correlation between the environment and their health.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    MBKS mayor YBhg Dato Wee Hong Seng explaining the council’s concept of a community park during an interview with RAKAN Sarawak<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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    MBKS Environmental Policy. Image from MBKS official website<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    The initiative is thus perceived as a long-term measure by the council to ensure that its residents\u2019 physical and mental well-being are taken into consideration at all times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cWe started to do upgrading on parks, because to have a good lifestyle, you must have good health. To have a healthy city, you must have healthy people. I think that is basic, right?\u201d he says in an interview with RAKAN Sarawak<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    He notes that these community parks, as MBKS terms them, will be set up or redesigned to become multi-functional and family-centric for public, private or non-governmental organisations to provide their services and conduct activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These open spaces are also expected to benefit the general public by becoming a place for them to lead a healthy lifestyle, appreciate the environment or hang out beyond shopping malls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Furthermore, Dato Wee believes that these parks can help support Sarawak\u2019s preparation for an ageing society<\/a>, where they can be avenues for the elderly to move about in order to remain physically active, and interact with their neighbours or other people as a means to stay mentally and emotionally fit.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    Establishing or improving its open spaces and parks in its jurisdiction is an ongoing initiative by MBKS. According to Dato Wee, among those in the pipeline is Hui Sing Recreational Park at Taman Hui Sing. Photo by Monica Kong<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    Shifting Perceptions on the Role of a Local Authority<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Green Space projects are part and parcel of Greening the City, a key strategy of MBKS\u2019s environmental management plan (Table 1).<\/p>\n\n\n

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    Table 1: \u201cGreening the City\u201d objective, activities and programmes\/projects by MBKS. (Source: Majlis Bandaraya Kuching Selatan)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    The plan itself is defined by the fourth pillar of the council\u2019s Strategic Plan 2021-2025 \u2013 i.e. Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability \u2013 which supports the United Nations\u2019 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)<\/a>, in particular:<\/p>\n\n\n\n