MPKS to form specific council as part of ‘Child-Friendly City’ initiatives

KOTA SAMARAHAN (Aug 2): The Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) is setting up a child council as part of its United Nations (UN) International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) action plans.

According to its Community Development standing committee chairman Dr Florince Christy, the Kota Samarahan Child Council (KSCC) is an empowering platform dedicated to the voices of young individuals aged between nine and 17, meant to champion their rights and advocate for positive changes within the municipality.

She also points out that the young people who live, work or study here have been invited to apply to become members of the council.

Application forms can be obtained from the MPKS website, www.mpks.gov.my, or its Facebook page.

Completed forms can be delivered to its one-stop-centre at the MPKS premises, or emailed to [email protected], by 12pm on Aug 19, 2024.

For clarifications and further enquiries, the prospective applicants may call MPKS CFCI secretariat on 019-8897446 or email to [email protected].

“We urge all eligible youths to take part in this transformative opportunity to make a difference in our community.

“Your participation is crucial in ensuring the voices of young people are heard and positive changes are enacted throughout Kota Samarahan,” said Florince in a press conference today.

By participating, the youths would have the opportunity to influence local policies, contribute to community development and build leadership skills, she added.

Florince also said the MPKS Child Council would ensure a diverse and inclusive representation from various areas and social backgrounds.

“There will be five representatives each from the Stakan, Muara Tuang, Asajaya and Sadong Jaya areas, as well as two representatives each from the Salvation Army and the OKU (individuals with disabilities) community,” she pointed out.

She said these representatives would reflect the diverse social backgrounds of the B40 (low-income), M40 (medium income), and T20 (top-income) groups within the community here.

“This diversity ensures the (child) council accurately represents the unique needs and perspectives of all children and youths in Kota Samarahan.”

The child council would comprise 24 executive committee members, including the chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, deputy secretary, treasurer, deputy treasurer and general members.

Executive committee members are appointed for a two-year term, during which they would set meeting agendas, oversee daily operations and call emergency meetings as needed.

Among those present during the press conference were MPKS chairman Dato Peter Minos and Unicef Malaysia Sub-National planning officer Yong Li Na.

On July 12 this year, Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said all municipalities in Sarawak had signed the memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to implement the Unicef CFCI.

They are the MPKS, Bintulu Development Authority (BDA), Kuching North City Commission (DBKU), Kuching South City Council (MBKS), Miri City Council (MCC), Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) and Sibu Municipal Council (SMC), which brings the total number of municipalities in Sarawak having confirmed their interest in implementing the CFCI to seven.

Fatimah said with this development, Sarawak would have the greatest number of participating local authorities for CFCI in Malaysia.

“With seven participating municipalities, there will be wider access to realise the rights of children in tandem with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) to ensure their participation in local decision-making.

“To realise this, Unicef Malaysia has commissioned and funded a Situational Analysis Survey to assess the readiness of the respective participating local authorities based on CFCI parameters.

“Upon completion of the survey, a CFCI Action Plan is drawn up for each local authority to implement and comply with before recognition as a child-friendly city can be awarded between two to five years,” the minister was quoted as having said.

Fatimah pointed out the survey had been completed for the pioneering municipalities, with implementation of action plans slated for the second half of 2024, while compliance assessments for CFCI would commence in April 2026.

“With the implementation of CFCI, a child or young people council comprising individuals ages 18 or younger within the jurisdiction of the local authority would be set up.”