By Karen Bong
KUCHING, March 16: The construction of the new Bau District Office complex, which is now at its final stages, is pushing towards completion in May this year so as to get ready for operations before Hari Gawai.
The new complex costing RM7.5 million, which will feature a three-storey building with a ‘baruk’ design concept and be equipped with up-to-date computer systems, will replace the old Bau District Office currently occupying a 90-year-old colonial building.
Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep paid an inspection visit to the site of the new complex yesterday (March 15) to ensure the project can be completed two months ahead of its initial completion date scheduled for July 2021 after an extension was given due to the enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
“It is progressing smoothly as the last stages of construction involve putting the finishing touches on the building like windows, tiles, ceilings as well as the exterior infrastructure like roads, parking (places) and so on.
“We want them (contractor) to finish by May for the launching (the date of which has yet to be determined) and hopefully operations can start before Gawai as originally planned,” he told DayakDaily when contacted today.
Henry expressed satisfaction with the overall progress of the project and the efforts of the construction team and contractor to bring this very important project to the advanced stages today.
Excited for the completion of the complex which is expected to be a new and iconic landmark in Bau, he emphasised: “This is just timely on the 90th anniversary of the existing building. Bau people are all looking forward to having a new administrative complex as Sarawak moves into the digital era.”
The new complex will serve about 60,000 people from the state constituencies of Tasik Biru, Serembu, part of Opar and part of Batu Kitang.
On the old building, Harry pointed out that it will be turned into a mother and child healthcare clinic which will be part of an extension of the Bau District Hospital.
“The present mother and child clinic at the hospital is congested and the extension is needed for the Bau and surrounding communities,” he added.
Bau District Officer Anielia Siam and representatives from the Kuching Resident’s Office, Administrative Unit of the Chief Minister’s Office, Ministry of Local Government and Housing, Land and Survey Department as well as Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Bau were present at the visit. — DayakDaily
