Kuching North City Hall

Last updated
Commission of Kuching North City Hall
Suruhanjaya Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara
Seal of North Kuching.svg
666 - Kuching Cat-Museum.JPG
Agency overview
Formed1 August 1988;36 years ago (1988-08-01)
Preceding agency
  • Kuching Municipal Council
JurisdictionNorthern part of the City of Kuching
Kuching North City Hall
HeadquartersBukit Siol, Jalan Semariang, Petra Jaya, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
MottoUntuk Masyarakat Berbudaya
Towards A Cultured Society
Agency executives
  • Hilmy Othman, Mayor
  • Haji Mohamed Khaidir Bin Abang, Director
Website dbku.sarawak.gov.my

The Commission of Kuching North City Hall (Malay : Suruhanjaya Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara, abbreviated DBKU) is the commission which administers the northern part of the city of Kuching in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. This commission was established after the city was officially granted city status on 1 August 1988. Their jurisdiction covers an area of 369.48 square kilometres.

Contents

The commission consists of the commissioner plus nine commission members appointed to serve a one-year term by the Sarawak State Government. DBKU is responsible for public health and sanitation, waste removal and management, town planning, environmental protection and building control, social and economic development and general maintenance functions of urban infrastructure.

History

The application for Kuching to be elevated to city status was made at the behest of the people. The petition was made by the Chairman of the KMC to the Minister responsible for Local Government, who motioned for a resolution pertaining to the matter. Thus on 18 July 1984 the Resolution was passed at the State Legislative Assembly. Both the petition and Resolution were given the assent of the Yang Di–Pertua Negeri in October 1985. Thereafter, they were submitted to the Conference of Rulers for consideration, by the Prime Minister. On 3 July 1986 the Resolution was approved after the Conference of Rulers was satisfied that certain prerequisites were met.

Kuching was officially inaugurated as a city on 1 August 1988 after having met certain procedures and prerequisites. The city of Kuching is divided into 2 areas: north and south. Each of these is administered by a Commissioner for Kuching North and a Mayor for Kuching South.

Kuching City South largely covers the area previously under the Kuching Municipal Council (KMC). As it is still a local government authority, its powers and functions as conferred by the KMC Ordinance are maintained with minor changes.

Kuching City North refers to a significant part of the territory formerly administered by the Kuching Rural District Council (KRDC). It also includes a part of the former KMC area. As it is not a local authority, Kuching City North is placed under the jurisdiction of a Commissioner who is assisted by a Board of Advisors. The Commissioner is a corporate body directly responsible to the State's Chief Minister. The powers and functions of the Commissioner are contained in the Kuching City North Ordinance, which is closely modelled on that of Kuching City South.

The city's twin administration was born out of the need for an efficient system which would allow for a balanced development and population distribution for the two territories. It will also ensure that Kuching City South will not be hampered by the added responsibilities of developing Kuching City North, which had been under the Kuching Rural District Council jurisdiction.

Two prominent sons of Sarawak, Yusoff Hanifah and Song Swee Guan, were accorded the distinguished honour of being appointed by the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri as the first Commissioner of Kuching City North and the first Mayor of Kuching City South, respectively.

Appointed commissioners of Kuching North

Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara. Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara 2024 (2).jpg
Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara.
No.CommissionerTerm startTerm end
1.Yusoff Hanifah1 August 19881994
2.Awang Ehsan Joini19952000
3.Madehi Kolek1 February 200131 December 2003
4.Abdul Hamid Mohd Yusoff1 January 200426 July 2006
5.Abang Atei Abang Medaan28 July 200631 July 2011
6.Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai1 August 201131 August 2019
7.Junaidi Reduan1 September 201931 August 2022
8.Hilmy Othman1 September 2022

Departments

  1. Kuching Cat Museum
  2. DBKU City Library

See also

Related Research Articles

A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the type of political region or polity, a governor may be either appointed or elected, and the governor's powers can vary significantly, depending on the public laws in place locally. The adjective pertaining to a governor is gubernatorial, from the Latin root gubernare. In a federated state, the governor may serve as head of state and head of government for their regional polity, while still operating under the laws of the federation, which has its own head of state for the entire federation.

In Malaysia, the Yang di-Pertua Negeri is a constitutional title given to the head of state in states without a ruler, namely: Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak. This is in contrast to a Ruler which is a constitutional title given to states with hereditary monarchies, namely: the Sultans of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Selangor and Terengganu; the Raja of Perlis: and the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak</span> Head of State of Sarawak, Malaysia

The Governor of Sarawak is the ceremonial head of state of Sarawak. The Yang di-Pertua Negeri is styled Tuan Yang Terutama. The official residence of the governor is The Astana, located on the north bank of the Sarawak River in Kuching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abang Muhammad Salahuddin</span> Third and sixth Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak (1921–2022)

Tun Pehin Sri Abang Haji Muhammad Salahuddin bin Abang Barieng was a Malaysian politician who served as the third Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak from 1977 to 1981, and as the sixth Yang di-Pertua Negeri from 2001 to 2014. He was the first Yang di-Pertua Negeri to hold the post twice, as well as the oldest elected to the office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petra Jaya</span> Suburb in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Petra Jaya is a suburb of Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. This suburb was named after the sixth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Yahya Petra of Kelantan (1975-1979).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1963 in Malaysia</span>

This article lists important figures and events in Malayan and Malaysian public affairs during the year 1963, together with births and deaths of significant Malaysians. The Federation of Malaya merged with Singapore, North Borneo, and Sarawak to form the Federation of Malaysia on 16 September.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988 in Malaysia</span>

This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 1988, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government of Malaysia</span> Federal government of Malaysia

The Government of Malaysia, officially the Federal Government of Malaysia, is based in the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, with the exception of the legislative branch, which is located in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia is a federation composed of the 11 States of Malaya, the Borneo States of Sabah and Sarawak, and 3 Federal Territories operating within a constitutional monarchy under the Westminster system and is categorised as a representative democracy. The federal government of Malaysia adheres to and is created by the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, the supreme law of the land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuching South City Council</span>

The Council of the City of Kuching South is the city council which administers the southern part of the city of Kuching in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. This council was established after the city was officially granted city status on 1 August 1988. Their jurisdiction covers an area of 61.53 square kilometres.

The local government in Malaysia is the lowest tier of government in Malaysia administered under the states and federal territories which in turn are beneath the federal tier. Local governments are generally under the exclusive purview of the state governments as provided in the Constitution of Malaysia, except for local governments in the federal territories. The federal Ministry of Local Government Development plays a role in co-ordinating and standardising the practices of local governments across the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Malaysian Constitution</span>

The foundation of the Constitution of Malaysia was laid on 10 September 1877. It began with the first meeting of the Council of State in Perak, where the Yang di-Pertuan Agong first started to assert their influence in the Malay states. Under the terms of the Pangkor Engagement of 1874 between the Sultan of Perak and the British, the Sultan was obliged to accept a British Resident. Hugh Low, the second British Resident, convinced the Sultan to set up advisory Council of State, the forerunner of the state legislative assembly. Similar Councils were constituted in the other Malay states as and when they came under British protection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarawak State Legislative Assembly</span> Unicameral legislature of the Malaysian state of Sarawak

The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly is the legislative chamber of the unicameral legislature of the Malaysian state of Sarawak; the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak forms the other part of the legislature. The Assembly is modelled after the traditions of the Westminster parliamentary system, which originates from the practices of the British Parliament. The executive branch of government is drawn from the elected members of the Assembly. The State Legislative Assembly sits at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building located in Petra Jaya in Kuching, the state capital.

The Darjah Utama Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Sarawak is the highest state order in the state of Sarawak. It is conferred to those who rendered excellent service towards the development of the state of Sarawak and Malaysia. The Order was established in 1964, a year after Sarawak's independence with the formation of Malaysia. The history of the order can be traced back to 1928, where a similar order named Order of the Star of Sarawak was established by the White Rajahs. However, the revived order has no connection with the previous order, except for the similarity of the name of the order. The motto of the Order is based on the state motto and the current one was adopted in 1988. The design of the order ribbon was changed twice, first in 1973 and again in 1988. The design follows the colors of the Sarawakian flag: blue, red and white, and yellow, black and red. Both the Officer of the Star of Sarawak (JBS) and Officer of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (JBS) share the same necklace design.

The state governments in Malaysia are the governments ruling the 13 states in the federation of Malaysia. All 13 states adopts the Westminster Parliamentary system and each has a unicameral state legislative assembly. Each of the States of Malaya is run by an EXCO, while Sabah and Sarawak have their respective Cabinet and Ministry. The state government structure in all 13 states is similar to the government system of the federal government of Malaysia and that the state legislatures consist of only a single chamber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah</span> Sabah Head of State

The Governor of Sabah is the ceremonial head of state of Sabah. The Yang di-Pertua Negeri is styled Tuan Yang Terutama. The current officeholder is Juhar Mahiruddin, who was sworn in on 1 January 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crown Colony of North Borneo</span> British colony from 1946 to 1963

The Crown Colony of North Borneo was a Crown colony on the island of Borneo established in 1946 shortly after the dissolution of the British Military Administration. The Crown Colony of Labuan joined the new Crown colony during its formation. It was succeeded as the state of Sabah through the formation of the Federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Premier of Sarawak</span> Head of government in Sarawak, Malaysia

The premierof Sarawak is the head of government of the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The premier is appointed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak. The premier is also the leader of the political party or coalition that secures a majority in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Sarawak</span>

The present coat of arms of Sarawak is largely based on the second state coat of arms, which was granted on 31 August 1973.

The cabinet of Sarawak serves as the primary decision-making body within the executive branch of the Government of Sarawak. Its composition mirrors that of the federal level, albeit on a smaller scale. At its core is the Premier, appointed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) based on their ability to secure majority support in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly. The Cabinet comprises ministers drawn from the legislative body, appointed by the Premier's recommendation.

The Sarawak Government is an authority governing Sarawak, one of the Borneo states of Malaysia, and is based in Kuching, the state capital. The state government adheres to and is created by both the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, the supreme law of Malaysia, and the Constitution of the State of Sarawak, the supreme law of the State.

References