By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 7: Sarawak’s non-government Islamic organisation Hikmah will no longer be a squatter once it has its very own complex slated for completion in two years time.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Hikmah is temporarily occupying the land owned by Masjid Jamek (Lembaga Amanah Kebajikan Masjid Negeri Sarawak — LAKMNS).
“Thus, I discussed this with Hikmah president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain that Hikmah cannot be squatting forever, so since we are able to, we should establish a complex that is not on other’s land.
“That is how we have come to procure the current land site to construct the complex,” he said when officiating at the earth-breaking ceremony of Hikmah Complex and Hikmah Tahfiz School held at a site near Jalan Pustaka, Petra Jaya here today.
Abang Johari also mentioned that the funding for the construction of the complex came from Hikmah and Baitulmal, assisted by the State government.
Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz informed that LAKMNS has agreed to provide 10 acres of land for the construction of Hikmah Complex and Hikmah Tahfiz School.
The new complex costs about RM35 million will start construction this year and expected to be completed in 24 months.
The complex will houses the Hikmah administrative headquarters, a hall that can accommodate 1500 people at a time, and a cafeteria that will be open to the public.
The Hikmah Tahfiz School which costs RM17 million, on the other hand, will have 18 classrooms and can accommodate more than 500 students at a time.
Amongst those present were State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar; Deputy State Secretary (Economic and Development Plan) and Hikmah vice president Datu Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel; Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni; Hikmah vice president Toh Puan Hayati Ahmat; and Hikmah secretary-general, the event’s organising committee chairman and Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak (TBS) general manager Datu Abang Mohd Shibli Abang Mohd Nailie. — DayakDaily
