Abang Johari: Kuching is model for 'City of Unity' to the world

KUCHING: Kuching is a fine example of a model of a 'City of Unity' to the outside world, so long as solidarity among its people continues to gain international recognition.
Therefore, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Dr Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government would continue to support the 1Malaysia Foundation (Y1M)'s efforts to enable Kuching to be recognised as a 'City of Unity' by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
He said unity was not something that was easy to achieve. Instead, it often caused conflicts in many countries, resulting in a waste of resources, and affecting the country's economy and causing other problems.
Abang Johari said the values of mutual trust, respect and tolerance in various aspects of life among the city's multiracial people were something to be proud of, adding it had enabled the state government to fully focus on economic development and boost the people's income.
"The spirit of unity had enabled Sarawak's fifth chief minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem to declare Kuching as the 'City of Unity' on Aug 1, 2015," he said at the 2017 City of Unity workshop at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak here today.
The 'City of Unity' declaration was borne out of an idea and research by Y1M, a non-governmental organisation, which sees Kuching as a city with the characteristics of unity, as compared to other cities in the country.
Abang Johari said the two-day workshop involved discussions, among others, on the 'City of Unity' status, multi-ethnic and cultural, and political stability.
Also present at the event were Mayor of Kuching City North Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai, Y1M chairman Dr Chandra Muzaffar and Y1M member Datuk Seri Azman Ujang, who is also chairman of Bernama. — Bernama