Latest news with #KotaKinabaluCommunityHall
Daily Express
01-08-2025
- General
- Daily Express
Kota Kinabalu Community Hall to be restored, not demolished
Published on: Friday, August 01, 2025 Published on: Fri, Aug 01, 2025 By: Larry Ralon Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: The fire-damaged Kota Kinabalu Community Hall (DBKK) will be restored in its original form rather than demolished, due to its historical value, said Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah. Over 50pc of the building was damaged in the 29 July blaze, believed to be caused by an electrical short circuit. The roof collapsed and flammable wooden interior fittings were mostly destroyed, but the concrete structure remains intact, making restoration possible. Dr Sabin, who visited the site with officials from DBKK, the Fire Department, police, and insurers, said proposals including preserving the hall's structure and upgrading its surroundings will be submitted to the State Cabinet after the full investigation report. The hall, a city landmark for over 60 years, had no occupants during the fire, and no injuries were reported. The fire was brought under control in about three hours. * Read full report in tomorrow's print paper or log in or sign up for e-paper and premium online news access. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Malay Mail
01-08-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Kota Kinabalu City Hall proposes rebuilding historic community landmark after fire
KOTA KINABALU, Aug 1 — Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) will propose to the state government that the historic Kota Kinabalu Community Hall be rebuilt rather than demolished, following a fire that destroyed much of the building earlier this week. Mayor Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah confirmed that the blaze had gutted more than half of the iconic structure, particularly the wooden fittings and roof, and said the building would require significant reconstruction and refurbishment. 'The damage is more than 50 per cent, especially the roof, which collapsed, and also the walls — most of the fittings were made of wood and plywood. Those materials burned quickly. However, the concrete parts were not affected,' he said at the launch of the Jalur Gemilang 2025 campaign today. Despite the extent of the damage, he said City Hall had no plans to demolish the building and instead hoped to preserve its original structure. 'Perhaps we will upgrade the landscape outside to make it more visually appealing. But preserving the original form is one of the options we will propose to the state government,' said Sabin. He said a full investigation by the Fire and Rescue Services Department was underway to determine the cause of the blaze, which broke out late Sunday night and engulfed a large section of the hall. 'Once that is complete, we will present it to the Cabinet regarding the next steps to restore the hall, which can be considered a historic building for the state of Sabah,' he said. The Kota Kinabalu Community Hall, a post-World War II landmark built in 1958, was nearly destroyed in the fire that started just after midnight three days ago. Initial reports estimated that around 80 per cent of the building was damaged. Originally opened by then British North Borneo Governor Sir Roland Turnbull, the hall has long been considered a symbol of post-war reconstruction, after much of Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu) was flattened during the Allied liberation of Sabah. Over the decades, it has served as a vital venue for civic and political events, cultural exhibitions, and even sporting matches. Former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee has called for the community hall to be fully restored in its original design, stressing that only facilities like the toilets and café should be upgraded. 'It is a well-known community centre and has been the site of many momentous and historic events from the colonial era until today,' he said yesterday. The hall was officially gazetted as a Cultural Heritage Conservation site under the Sabah Cultural Heritage Conservation Enactment 1997 and remains protected under that law.
The Star
29-07-2025
- General
- The Star
KK Community Hall destroyed in midnight blaze
The historical Kota Kinabalu Community Hall was destroyed in a fire Tuesday (July 29). KOTA KINABALU: A historical community centre in the heart of the city's central business district here has been destroyed in a fire. The 12.30am blaze on Tuesday (July 29) destroyed 80% of the hall that sits along Jalan Dewan at the foothill of the city's Signal Hill. No casualties were reported, and an investigation is underway to establish the cause of the fire. Teams of firemen from three stations in Kota Kinabalu and neighbouring Penampang district rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call at 12.44am, but were only able to bring the fire under control by 2.40am before dousing it completely by 3.30am. The fire engulfing the Kota Kinabalu Community Hall. The interior of the hall was destroyed, although the building's structure was not badly damaged. Sabah Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Muhammad Taqiuddin Victor Doon said the fire also spread to the adjacent Kota Kinabalu City Hall recycling store. 'When we arrived, we found that the fire involved almost the entire hall and a recycling storage store," he said. The Kota Kinabalu Community Hall is seen as a historical landmark in the city as it was used by the British colonial government, and was the site of major events, including gatherings for the formation of Malaysia. The hall, then known as Jesselton Community Hall (the colonial name of Kota Kinabalu), was officially opened in 1958 by British North Borneo governor Sir Roland Turnbull. According to records, the construction was financed with money obtained by the Committee of the Management of Japanese Assets following the end of World War II in 1945. Firemen putting out the fire inside the Kota Kinabalu Community Hall. The hall was a venue for community and political gatherings, exhibitions and sporting events such as boxing, badminton and basketball matches in its more than six-decade history. Its design was considered advanced for the times, with a pin-based gable frame and 15-degree pitch allowing the hall to be built without interior pillars. This design enabled it to have a capacity of 800 people and accommodate basketball and badminton courts. The steel framework was fabricated in Melbourne, Australia, and shipped to Sabah. The construction was handled by a local company for a total cost of 280,730 North Borneo dollars. In the early 2000s, the state government proposed to demolish and relocate the hall but heritage conservation activists protested, and the idea was shelved. The hall stood as a post-war symbol of reconstruction, as most of Jesselton was destroyed during the Allied liberation of Sabah from the Japanese.
