By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, May 17: The Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) building extension would be made from wood, reveals Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Abang Johari said he had agreed with Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan’s proposal that BCCK would be extended, by using engineered wood materials as its major source.
“The extension of the convention centre will attract businesses to come to Sarawak. At the same time, we can display wood buildings because Sarawak has natural forests and planted forests.
“But make sure it (the new building) can stand out, as what we expected it to be.
“This is very important because it is part of our promotion. I leave it to the architect and the players to ensure the extended building of BCCK is made of wood material.
“It will stand on its own be and the pride of Borneo as well as Sarawak,” he said.
Abang Johari said this in his speech when officiating at the closing ceremony for International Conference on Engineered Wood Sarawak 2023 at BCCK here today.
The conference which was held from May 16 to May 17 aimed to support continuous strides in promoting engineered wood among stakeholders and industry players in Sarawak.
Abang Johari said he was given to understand that engineered wood components and composition changes with technology, but it still needs the resources (wood) to make it.
He proposed that engineered wood must have a combination of treatments to increase its durability.
“Secondly, before a structure is up, the geology of the soil needs to be studied properly, so that the building can stand,” he added.
“When I was the minister for industrial development, there was an initiative to use wood to make the housing structure of a hotel. It was done, but not come to 10 years, the wood structure collapsed,” he recalled, expressing his hope that engineered wood is of better quality.
“I hope the conference is successful in promoting our forest and engineered wood,” he said.
Last year, it was reported Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that a new building for conventions and exhibitions will be built, next to BCCK.
Apart from Awang Tengah, other guests present at the closing ceremony were Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development Permanent Secretary Datu Zaidi Mahdi and Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) General Manager Datu Hashim Bojet. — DayakDaily
