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KUCHING, 4 April – The iconic cat statues at Chan Chin Ann Cat Tower along Jalan Padungan are now turning heads with their brand new eye colours — and guess what? The people of Kuching made the call!
Yes, in a refreshing twist, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) gave power to the people, letting residents vote on Facebook to decide the new eye colour design for the city’s beloved feline icons. Out of eight options, four colours were shortlisted and the final choice was made by majority vote. Democracy, but make it meow!
Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said the idea was born after positive response from the public when the large white cat at Bulatan Sri Aman had its eyes repainted. That success sparked the expansion of the project to the statues at Chan Chin Ann Cat Tower — one of Kuching’s most recognisable landmarks.
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“We believe the soul of a cat is in its eyes,” said Dato Wee during a site visit to inspect the touch-up. “That’s why we took extra care in this part of the design. And this project shows that everyone’s voice matters — even when it comes to cats!”
The makeover was done by talented local artist Gerald Goh, the same hand behind the Bulatan Sri Aman cat. Although the repaint was originally planned to be done before Chinese New Year, the rainy season caused a few delays. But with sunny skies now in play, touch-ups are expected to wrap up quickly — within the hour, in fact.
Beyond statues, MBKS is also working on something more serious: preparing Kuching to be an ageing-friendly city by 2028. This includes building accessible public toilets and improving infrastructure to cater to senior citizens and people with mobility issues.
“Big changes take time, and sometimes it’s not just the infrastructure — it’s the public mindset that needs upgrading too,” Dato Wee added.
So, whether it’s giving cats brighter eyes or making the city friendlier for seniors, MBKS is pushing for a Kuching where everyone – young, old, or feline – feels heard.