By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, May 10: The meticulous documentation of two iconic heritage buildings—Old Hokkien School and Darul Kurnia—carried out by students from Kuching Community College has been officially unveiled to the public through the ‘Timeless Treasures: The Legacy of Old Hokkien School & Darul Kurnia’ exhibition at Plaza Merdeka.
The exhibition, which runs from May 9 to 11, showcases architectural drawings, research findings, and even handcrafted miniatures of the two historic buildings—all produced by third-semester students from the Certificate in Architectural Technology programme.
Supported by a RM10,000 grant from the Sarawak Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD), the documentation project aims to raise public awareness about the cultural and historical significance of Kuching’s built heritage.
MEITD Minister Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, in a text speech delivered by the Ministry’s Head of Lower Education Division, Donald Henry Nohed, during the exhibition’s closing ceremony today, lauded the students’ work as a meaningful contribution to Sarawak’s heritage preservation efforts.
“I would like to suggest that the documentation be published in the form of technical reports, journals, or digital exhibitions, or stored in the State Archive for future reference.
“This information can also be utilised by urban planning agencies, heritage departments, and higher education institutions to shape long-term conservation strategies,” he said.
Sagah also encouraged that the programme be expanded to include more heritage sites across Sarawak.
“There are hundreds of old buildings and structures throughout the State that remain undocumented. With continued efforts like this, we can protect and preserve these treasures before they are lost to time,” he added.
PCSS Consultancy Sdn Bhd served as the technical partner for the project, guiding students in field measurements, architectural drawing, and heritage documentation techniques.
Sagah expressed hope that the success of ‘Timeless Treasures’ would inspire similar initiatives throughout the State.
Meanwhile, PCSS Consultancy Sdn Bhd manager Andy Tiong revealed that the documentation project began in January 2024 with a three-month internship programme. During the internship, students were trained in digital tools and architectural data collection before heading to the field.
Data collection for Darul Kurnia and the Old Hokkien School took place over three to four months in early 2024.
Looking ahead, he shared that the Sarawak Museum Department has expressed interest in expanding the initiative to include other iconic structures such as the Old Courthouse and Post Office.
The long-term goal is to build a digital heritage map of Kuching that the public can access virtually, possibly through interactive displays at the Borneo Cultures Museum.
“We’ve already connected the dots and plan to hold discussions in the next month or two to chart the next phase involving other heritage sites,” Tiong said.
Also present was Sarawak Zone Community College Implementation Coordination Committee (JPPKK) deputy chairman Khalid Husseine Tuah. — DayakDaily
