MBKS and DBKL Seal Historic City Partnership to Boost Growth, Innovation and Livability

KUCHING – A historic partnership between Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) was formalised today with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking the first official collaboration between the two cities aimed at driving sustainable growth, innovation and improved urban living standards.

The MoU, signed in the presence of Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Seri Maimunah binti Mohd Sharif, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, and Datuk Wee Hong Seng, Mayor of Kuching South, symbolises a mutual commitment to building stronger, smarter, and more liveable cities for their residents.

In his speech, Datuk Wee revealed that the idea for this partnership was born during a conversation with Dato’ Seri Maimunah in Penang last year.
“We realised that while MBKS has forged friendships with eight cities in China, one in South Korea and one in Japan, we had yet to form such a partnership with a fellow Malaysian city. That conversation planted the seed for what we are witnessing today,” he said.

DBKL as a Benchmark in City Governance

Datuk Wee commended DBKL’s long-standing reputation for effective urban governance, citing its experience in managing a rapidly growing metropolis.
“We look at DBKL’s integrated transport initiatives, its smart city applications, and its urban regeneration programmes. These are proven ideas that we can adapt to benefit Kuching South,” he explained.

He also highlighted MBKS’ own strengths, noting that Kuching South has been recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and Craft City, is part of the Alliance for Healthy Cities, and is the first local authority in Sarawak to join the WHO Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities.
“These recognitions reflect our expertise in cultural tourism, community wellness and inclusive urban design,” he added.

Five Key Areas of Collaboration

The MoU outlines cooperation in five core areas:

1. Technology and Data – Sharing systems for urban services, traffic management, and digital engagement.
2. City Beautification – Exchanging approaches to public spaces, green corridors, and streetscaping.
3. Tourism and Culture – Developing joint campaigns to promote Kuala Lumpur’s global appeal alongside Kuching’s cultural heritage.
4. Community Wellness – Combining DBKL’s health promotion initiatives with MBKS’ Healthy City network.
5. Sustainable Development – Learning from DBKL’s large-scale environmental projects and sharing MBKS’ waste reduction and biodiversity efforts.

Tangible Benefits for Residents

Datuk Wee emphasised that this collaboration will directly benefit communities in both cities.
“Our UNICEF Child Friendly Cities Initiative can work alongside DBKL’s community education programmes to create safer and more nurturing spaces for children. Our Age-Friendly City strategies can benefit from DBKL’s experience in urban accessibility. DBKL’s smart parking and mobility systems can be adapted to improve convenience and efficiency in Kuching South,” he said.

The partnership also opens opportunities for staff development, allowing teams from both councils to gain exposure to new tools, methods and perspectives. This, Datuk Wee said, would encourage innovation and strengthen institutional capacity.

Residents can expect cleaner streets, improved connectivity, safer neighbourhoods, and more vibrant public spaces. Tourism will gain from combined events and shared promotions, while businesses can benefit from a more dynamic urban environment.

Commitment to Measurable Results

Datuk Wee made it clear that the success of the MoU will be judged on results.
“Our teams will work closely, exchange solutions, and adapt what works best for each local context. We will benchmark progress and ensure every initiative delivers tangible improvements for the people we serve,” he stated.

He closed his speech by thanking Dato’ Seri Maimunah and DBKL for embracing the partnership.
“This is not a competition. It is a partnership built on mutual respect and shared ambition. Together we can build cities that are efficient, sustainable and humane. Let us ensure that every citizen, from the youngest child to the oldest resident, can live with dignity, safety and pride,” he said.