KUCHING — The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has been awarded the 2025 JCI Malaysia Sustainable Development Award (JCIM SDA) under Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, in recognition of its “Bank Sampah” project.
During the gala ceremony on 21 September, MBKS was among 30 finalists from across Malaysia, with two of its initiatives, Bank Sampah and the Kuching Natural Farmers’ Market, making the shortlist. The Bank Sampah project ultimately prevailed.
The winning initiative employs a reward-based system: households are encouraged to recycle by exchanging their recyclables for rewards.
This approach is designed to reduce waste, transform household refuse into reusable materials, and instil a stronger culture of environmental responsibility.
This achievement adds to MBKS’s history of recognition under the JCIM SDA. Previous awards include:
- in 2020, for the IPeople/Qmunity App under SDG 11;
- 2021, the Let’s Recycle Together initiative under SDG 12;
- in 2023, for upgrades to the Traffic Garden and Kenyalang Park Open Spaces under SDG 11;
- and 2024, for the iBuyBack App under SDG 11.
Dato Wee Hong Seng, Mayor of MBKS, praised the effort of councillors and staff, saying the award reflects “the passion and commitment of our MBKS family in building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable Kuching South.”
According to official statements, MBKS intends to maintain its focus on community-led projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, aiming to improve living standards for residents in Kuching South.