By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 18: Following the destruction of the Bidayuh House which caused losses of over RM2 million, the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) has been advised to step up fire prevention efforts as most of its traditional buildings are made of wood and other combustible materials.
In a TVS report, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah emphasised that improving safety standards is crucial to protect visitors and preserve the SCV’s heritage.
“We know that most of the buildings in the SCV are made of wood and materials such as nipah palm thatch, which are easily flammable.
“Inspections of old electrical cables should be carried out regularly, as some of the buildings are more than 20 years old while others are about 10 years old.
“All of these need to be checked annually to ensure safety,” he said to reporters during his visit to the site of the burnt Bidayuh House at the Sarawak Cultural Village today.
Abdul Karim further stressed that SCV staff members should also be trained as first responders to enhance preparedness and reduce reliance on external aid.
“The staff must know what to do during the initial moments of an emergency because quick action can save lives and minimise losses,” he said.
The fire on Oct 12 destroyed the Bidayuh House, which was completed in 2011 housing various artefacts and traditional items of the Bidayuh community. — DayakDaily
