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Daily Express
an hour ago
- General
- Daily Express
Historic Kota Kinabalu Community Centre blaze
Published on: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 30, 2025 By: Jimmy Goh Text Size: The fire that damaged the Kota Kinabalu Community Centre. Kota Kinabalu: A fire broke out at the historic Kota Kinabalu Community Centre on Jalan Dewan Masyarakat, Monday, destroying 80 per cent of equipment intended for the coming August 31 National Day celebrations and causing extensive damage to the cherished heritage building. The blaze, which began around 11pm on Monday, prompted a distress call at 12.44am that brought 25 firefighters from Kota Kinabalu, Lintas and Penampang stations to the scene. The emergency teams battled the fire for more than three hours before finally bringing it under control at 4.88am Tuesday. No injuries were reported. The fire destroyed sound systems and LED screens that had been delivered just hours earlier for the National Day ceremony. A 21-year-old Kota Kinabalu City Hall staff member known as Aurel, said the equipment had arrived via a 3-tonne lorry at 3pm. Police, DBKK staff and Sabah Electricity personnel also responded to assist at the scene. The cause of the fire is still under investigation as at press time. The hall survived decades of challenges including rapid urbanisation, tropical weather and the passage of time as one of the earliest public structures built in Kota Kinabalu after World War II. Originally known as the Jesselton Community Centre, the hall has served as the heart of civic life in Kota Kinabalu for over six decades. It was designed by Billings Leong. It was built in the 1950s and has a multi-purpose space featuring a full basketball court convertible to three badminton courts, with seating for 800 people. Built on land that previously served as a football field and recreation area under British rule, the hall quickly became the city's premier venue for official functions, community events, cultural performances and public forums. Its importance peaked during Sabah's early development following independence in 1963 and was where the Cobbold Commission held its hearings on the wishes of the people towards the Malaysia proposal. The hall also played a sombre role during the Double Six Crash tragedy, serving as a location where victims' bodies, including that of Tun Fuad Stephens, were placed for last respects. In the mid-1990s it was slated for demolition under a redevelopment plan that would have seen a shopping complex in its place. However, a sustained media campaign by Daily Express with support from then Museum Director Datuk Jamdin Buyong that it was too important to be demolished and qualified for Heritage status won the day. The relevant Minister then had Jamdin transferred out. Meanwhile, in another part of the city, firefighters rescued two men trapped in an elevator during a construction material fire at a commercial centre, Tuesday. Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at 1.57am and arrived at the scene 13 minutes later. The fire occurred on the fifth-floor parking area, damaging 20 per cent of the space. Both victims, who suffered breathing difficulties from smoke inhalation, were treated at the scene by Emergency Medical Rescue Services personnel. The blaze was brought under control at 3.25am and fully extinguished eight minutes later. Nineteen firefighters from Kota Kinabalu, Putatan and Penampang fire stations responded to the emergency. Police and Sabah Electricity personnel were also present to assist. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Both victims are reported to be in stable condition. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
16 hours ago
- General
- Daily Express
KK Community Hall closed until further notice
Published on: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 29, 2025 Text Size: A file photo of the fire that damaged the Kota Kinabalu Community Hall. – Pic by JBPM KOTA KINABALU: The City Hall (DBKK) has suspended all bookings and use of the Kota Kinabalu Community Hall following a fire early Tuesday morning. The 1am blaze on 29 July 2025 caused structural damage to the building, prompting DBKK to begin assessments and plan for repairs. Those with existing bookings may cancel and request refunds by visiting the DBKK Hall Booking Unit on Level 7, Centre Point Sabah, and meet the officer in charge, Liveti Pouyin @ Lydia. Manual bookings made at DBKK counters will be refunded via official letter, while payments through the GoNet app will be automatically returned to users' accounts. For more information, the public may contact the Property Management Department at 088-244000 ext. 621 or 012-2143740 (Shafirah), during office hours from Monday to Friday. Operations at the Sustainability Centre located within the Community Hall compound are also suspended and will be temporarily relocated to Damai Multipurpose Hall from mid-August. DBKK apologises for any inconvenience caused and will continue to provide updates through its official channels. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Five-hour closure of Kota Kinabalu bypass this Friday
Published on: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 29, 2025 Text Size: The traffic lights at the Dewan involving the route from Capital Roundabout (Bandaran) to Dewan Masyarakat Road will also be closed temporarily. Kota Kinabalu: The KK bypass, from the Bunga Raya Roundabout to the Costal Roundabout, will be temporarily closed for five hours this Friday (Aug 1), from 6.30am to 11.30am. District Police Chief, ACP Kasim Muda, said the road closure is in conjunction with the National Month Launch, Sabah Day, and the 2025 Flag Raising Campaign. The event is expected to be officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, at the Kota Kinabalu Community Hall. The traffic lights at the Dewan involving the route from Capital Roundabout (Bandaran) to Dewan Masyarakat Road will also be closed temporarily. However, he said the route from Capital Roundabout to Bunga Raya Roundabout remains open to other road users. He said Jalan Dewan would also be temporarily closed from the direction of Pintu Gerbang Dirgahayu or from the direction of Padang Merdeka. In addition to the closure of roads on Jalan KK Bypass, roads such as Jalan Coastal will also have traffic control measures in place throughout the duration of the programme to ensure smooth traffic flow around the city centre. 'We have approximately 150 personnel assigned for security purposes, excluding an additional 50 personnel for traffic duties, along with assistance from JPJ, DBKK, and Rela,' he told the media after being a guest on the Interview Segment with Sabah FM presenters, DJ Ramlah and DJ Ozel, here on Monday. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Express
Students, volunteers unite for Ocean Day at Tanjung Lipat
Published on: Sunday, July 27, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jul 27, 2025 Text Size: Institut Sinaran, SIGA and DBKK representatives pose for photo at Tg Lipat with 271kg of litter collected. Kota Kinabalu: Kinabalu Japanese School hosted a full-day Ocean Day (Umi no Hi) event, combining marine education, student creativity, and hands-on environmental action in honour of Japan's national holiday celebrating the sea. The day began with a lively presentation by Fish Tank Bah!, who spoke on ocean protection and responsible fishkeeping, followed by a pop quiz. KJS students also took part in an art competition titled 'My Ocean Promise,' sharing personal pledges for a cleaner sea. Later over 50 participants-including Institut Sinaran A-Level students and lecturers, undertook a beach clean-up at Tanjung Lipat, where 271kg of litter was collected in just over an hour, with support from DBKK. SIGA Kelab Ikan Hiasan dan Air Tawar Sabah also joined the initiative, contributing to the strong community spirit. 'Learning takes on true meaning when it leads to action,' said Principal Watarai Hiroyuki. 'This experience allowed our students to turn knowledge into responsibility and take real steps to care for the ocean together.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Relocation for traders as work to upgrade Kepayan Square starts
Published on: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 23, 2025 By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: Ewon handing over a canopy to one of the traders at Kepayan Square - Kuskop Pic PENAMPANG: A total of 72 small traders from Kepayan Square began preparing for a temporary relocation this week, as construction work starts on long-awaited upgrade to the public market space. Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (Kuskop) Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the Government is taking steps to ensure that traders continue to earn a living while improvements are made to their work environment. At a handover ceremony on Tuesday, Ewon distributed canopies, tables and chairs to the affected traders, who will move to a temporary trading site nearby for the next few months. 'We want to ensure that even during this transition, their livelihood is protected,' he said. 'This is about providing a safer and more comfortable space for the community to trade in the long run.' The RM2.4 million upgrade is being jointly funded by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), City Hall (DBKK) and the Kapayan state constituency. KPKT and DBKK are each contributing RM1 million, while Kapayan Assemblywoman Datuk Jannie Lasimbang is allocating RM400,000 from her constituency fund. Ewon said planning for the project started after he was elected Penampang MP in 2022, when he and Jannie visited the site with DBKK officials to assess its condition. 'What we saw back then was that the traders needed more than just shelter from the sun and rain. The space needed proper facilities, a roof, better flooring and proper drainage,' he said. He thanked Jannie for taking the lead in pushing for the project and raising the matter with the KPKT Minister Nga Kor Ming. 'This is a good example of what can happen when local and federal leaders work together,' he said. Jannie said the upgrade was something she had been pursuing since 2019, after hearing concerns directly from the traders. She said the location has always served more than just commercial purposes. 'This space is not just about business. It's a place where people meet, talk, share food and build connection. 'Once it has a proper roof and layout, it can serve the whole community during festive seasons, government programmes or even just a normal weekend,' she said. Also present were DBKK Deputy Director-General (Operations) Robert Lipon and local leaders involved in coordinating the relocation plan. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
