By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Dec 10: The soon-to-be-built Wisma Melayu Sarawak will be a symbol of identity, spirit and solidarity for not only the Malay community but the wider Bumiputera community in Sarawak.
Assistant Minister of Entrepreneur and Small-Medium Enterprise (SME) Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais emphasised this project is also a manifestation of the dream of the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem to have Amanah Khairat Yayasan Budaya Melayu Sarawak (AKYBMS) own its own building.
“The building is expected to be completed 24 months from now and the late Adenan had hoped that it will provide office space as well as a venue for activities and functions for the whole community,” he revealed when speaking at the earth-breaking ceremony for Wisma Melayu Sarawak by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at Jalan Diplomatik, Petra Jaya here today.
Currently, AKYBMS is putting up at the old government quarters at Rodway Road here.
The first phase of the Wisma Melayu Sarawak project, which is estimated to cost nearly RM50 million, will feature a two-storey building with a basement carpark based on the “Tengkolok” headgear worn by the Malay.
The facilities will include a main convention centre with a 2,000-person capacity, three seminar and meeting rooms, Malay culture gallery, exhibition space, administration office, a surau for 100 people, Samarinduk recreational landscape garden surrounded by existing mature cempedak trees and a 290-space carpark.
As such, Naroden thus called on the community, including corporate bodies to contribute cash or in-kind to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.
“If there is budget, AKYBMS will plan for Phase Two of the construction which will see a few components including a 10-storey office building for rental, a hotel or budget hotel, shophouses, warung-style restaurants as well as sports and recreational facilities.
“We thus urge the public, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and corporate bodies in Sarawak to help AKYBMS by utilising the facilities in the building in the future,” he said.
On AKYBMS, Naroden pointed out that their activities are wide ranging covering not only arts and culture but also education, economic, social, welfare, land development and so on.
“It also involved other communities and not only the Malays because Sarawak is a diverse state and a model state of unity and stability.
“With understanding, AKYBMS has become the platform and guide in successfully implementing all policies and programmes all this while in line with the state government’s aspiration, mission and vision for unity as the symbol of identity of people and state development,” he added.
Naroden emphasised that AKYBMS will continue to support the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government under the leadership of Abang Johari.
“To the Malay community, let’s together with other communities in Sarawak work together to support the government’s policies, preserve our culture and heritage, enhance human capital development and strengthen politics to chart more successes in all aspects.
“Let’s not allow our differences in opinions to become the barrier to unity as it will only be a disadvantage for the Malay community. It is only together that we can strengthen our unity for the prosperity of all,” he exhorted those present. — DayakDaily
