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By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, June 30: A new Astana building will be built on the plot of land between Jalan Astana Lot and Sarawak Botanical Garden, most likely on the abandoned Kuching North City Council (DBKU) clubhouse site on Bukit Astana.
A reliable source said the existing more-than-a-century old Astana building which was built in 1870, has been suffering from wear and tear and is no longer a conducive living space.
And since the piece of land located beside the new Sarawak Legislative Complex (DUN), between Jalan Astana Lot and Sarawak Botanical Garden has long been left idle, the plans for a new, livable Astana is thus in place.
The land which the new Astana will be occupying will include the piece of land formerly occupied by the General Operations Force (GOF) headquarters until 1980s when it was moved to its current site at Jalan Field Force, Batu Kawa.
Since then, the hilly area has been left vacant and taken over by nature, with only some concrete stumps visible.
On the top of the hill is a plateau where three old abandoned wooden buildings – DBKU Clubhouse and two other buildings without names can be seen. It is believed that this will be the place where the new Astana will be situated.
From there, the new Astana site overlooks the current Astana, the new DUN building and the tallest flagpole, as well as the Kuching Waterfront.
The present Astana was ideal in the olden days where the Brookes could easily embark on a vessel to get to the Kuching Bazaar side to perform their administrative duties.
Today, such a commute is no longer necessary and if a new Astana were to be seated on a hilltop, it will add to the beauty and attraction of the area on the North Bank stretching from the old Astana, the new DUN building, the flagpole, Fort Margherita, the Sarawak Botanical Gardens and the Wisma Bapa Malaysia Recreational Park. — DayakDaily
