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By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, June 24: Contractors have already been identified to upgrade the old Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex into a performing arts centre.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, And Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said it is in its final stage as there are still a few details to sort out since it involves a consortium of companies merging.
“They sent three proposals to the Sarawak Premier, and he likes it, then the Public Work Department (JKR) has to determine the pricing. I think it is a matter of writing them (the contractor) the letter of award, and then they can proceed with it.
“It has to be done carefully because the building is quite old, so renovation might probably take about two years and will probably start in the second half of this year,” he told reporters when met at ‘BIC Festival Vol 2: Celebrating Sarawak Cultural Revival through Art’ at La Promenade Mall today.
Abdul Karim said once the upgrading works, which would cost around RM200 million, are completed, it will be a centre to showcase Sarawak’s culture.
“My dream is for the place to be utilised every two weeks with cultural performances. It will be like Vienna in Austria, where it is a city of performing arts,” he said.
Abdul Karim’s wife, Datin Sri Zuraini Abdul Jabbar, was also present at the event. — DayakDaily
