Fix Kuching Civic Centre roof now before disaster strikes, Chong tells S'wak govt
Chong Chieng Jen
KUCHING (April 22): The Sarawak government should take immediate action to replace the roofing sheets of the Kuching Civic Centre instead of dilly-dallying, said DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen.
Chong, who is Stampin MP and Padungan assemblyman, said he had heard the tender for the roofing sheet replacement would only be called sometime in July this year.
'To allow such a life-threatening structure to remain in our midst and literally towering over our heads for months, that is most irresponsible of any government.
'I therefore call upon the state government to act immediately and replace the roofing sheets of the Kuching Civic Centre tower without further delay.
'Knowing there is this clear and present danger, we should not wait till disaster to happen before we act,' he said in a statement.
According to him, he has received messages of concern from the residents around the building, stating that there have been at least two occasions where roofing sheets from the tower were blown off — one landing in the backyard of a nearby house and another somewhere around Sarawak Club.
He said that although it was extremely fortunate that no one was hurt on both occasions, these polycarbonate roof sheets, measuring 20 feet x 4 feet each, could 'cut like a giant knife' when falling from such a height.
'It is a danger not only to the neighbouring properties but also a threat to the lives of the people nearby — residents, pedestrians or passers-by.
'One shivers at the thought of another such incident happening at any moment, especially during strong winds' he said.
On April 9, Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu said the Ministry would work with the Public Works Department (JKR) to inspect the Kuching Civic Centre's roof after a component was blown off and fell into a nearby home garden the previous day.
He also said that all of Sarawak's civic centres are now under the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (Mysed)'s purview and will come under a redevelopment masterplan.
It was recently reported that the conversion of the polycarbonate roof to an iron roof would begin in July, with an estimated cost of between RM200,000 and RM300,000. Chong Chieng Jen Kuching Civic Centre lead replace roofing sheets
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