HANOI, VIETNAM, 9 October 2008 (Thursday) - Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara once again has created history by winning the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities Award 2008. The Award ceremony took place on 8 th October 2008 in conjunction with the 11 th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment in Hanoi, Vietnam. The award was presented by His Excellency Mr. Pham Khoi Nguyen, Minister of Natural Resources and Envitonment, Vietnam to Mohd. Atei bin Abg, Medaan, Mayor of Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara. Also present during the ceremony was Yang Berhormat Datuk Douglas Ugah Embas, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Malaysia.

The award, given to 10 top ASEAN cities, was to honor cities in ASEAN which has shown considerable efforts to ensure that the environment is made sustainable by implementing environmental conservation. Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara which had just recently won the National Sustainable City Award (Bandar Lestari) last June has proven track records of its commitment towards a sustainable cities. Its program such as the Integrated Solid Waste Management, Recycling, City Cleaning Masterplan, Tree Planting and Landscaping, River Cleaning, Waste Water Management, Traffic Mitigation and many others.

In an interview by the local media in Hanoi, Mayor Abg Atei stressed the importance the public involvement to ensure environmental sustainability. This can be achieved by continuously creating awareness through campaigns, community projects, mass media participation and targetting the young children and students. Along with this, enforcement must also be carried out.