KUCHING: Sarawak remains committed to designing cities that prioritise long-term human health rather than just managing medical outcomes, says Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Speaking at the 15th World Congress and Exhibition on Design and Health, Dr Sim highlighted the state's 30-year "Healthy City" journey, which began in 1994 under former chief minister Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Dr Sim, who is also Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, stressed the adoption of a salutogenic design approach, focusing on promoting overall well-being rather than merely treating illness.
"The decisions city planners make today matter," Dr Sim said. "We can continue designing cities first and spend billions trying to manage health consequences later, or we can design health into our cities from the beginning so the city becomes part of the healthcare system."
He said that urban planning decisions directly influence human behavior, transport habits, and community health for generations. To achieve this, Sarawak's strategy has evolved to integrate housing, environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and infrastructure, such as pedestrian and cycling networks.
Dr Sim emphasised that building healthy cities requires cross-sector collaboration beyond the healthcare industry. "It requires everybody, doctors, architects, engineers. When we build a pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood, we are doing public health," he said.
Looking ahead, he added that future urban development must adapt to tropical climates, aging populations, and low-carbon targets, reinforcing that true sustainability must protect human health.
