This Content Is Only For Subscribers
By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, July 20: The Sarawak government will determine the fate of the Pos Malaysia heritage building at Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg once it is officially returned to the State, according to Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performance Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Hamzah.
The iconic heritage building is situated on one of the 52 pieces of land being relinquished to the State after the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) technical committee meeting on July 18, in Putra Jaya.
Abdul Karim stated that once the heritage building, currently housing the post office, is reverted to Sarawak, Pos Malaysia will need to find new premises, as it will technically belong to the State.
“If there is any land premium paid for all the lands surrendered to us before we will have it reimbursed and compensated,” he told reporters when met during a press conference on the final dress rehearsal of the 60th Anniversary Sarawak Independence Day Celebration parade held at Hotel Merdeka today.
He went on to elaborate that more than 200 pieces of land were leased by the Federal government before, where it had now agreed to return 52 to Sarawak and three to Sabah.
“Specifically, I am not sure of all the details of the 52 lands in Sarawak as there could be in Baram or even in Miri.
“I am happy the heritage building where Pos Malaysia operates is now given back to us. We will see what we can do so that the building will always be preserved.
“As it is, we need to repair the building once it is returned to us as there is a lot to be done.”
He said there could be many things the government could do to the heritage buildings, such as turning them into a culture or art gallery, a restaurant or a museum.
“If the building is of heritage value, it will be gazetted and developed accordingly,” he said. — DayakDaily
