Calling to preserve the old nurses' quarters building located at Jalan Crookshank in Kuching

We support the call for the old nurses' quarters located at Jalan Crookshank in Kuching to be preserved if possible rather than demolished for the proposed flood mitigation project there.

Local folks had voiced their concern on this matter because the quarters is a historical building with sentimental value to those who previously lived or worked there. But the building was slated to be replaced by a water retention pond to aid flood mitigation in the area, particularly for the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) located opposite it.

I have mentioned to our media friends during a recent press conference that it quite unfortunate for such thing to happen because the historical building is going to be demolished. If the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) had proposed a mitigation pond to solve the flooding problem, why was that site chosen?" 

Thus, I have urged the DID to pause the demolition and seek an alternative solution. If it is possible to save the building…then we should do so. If demolishing it is the only way to resolve flooding at SGH, then go ahead with it and I will back it. But if there are options to resolve this problem, go for the alternative because we want to preserve old buildings. 

Sadly it also noted that the department did not consult his ministry about the building's potential heritage value but instead contacted the Museum Department. I was made to understand that it was the previous museum director who had stated the building does not have heritage value…I was shocked when I saw the memo.

Kudos to the Sarawak Heritage Society (SHS) for having called for Sarawak’s government's intervention to save the nurses' quarters as a heritage building. The society had also launched a public petition to save the quarters from demolition, which has received nearly 1,000 signatures recently.

On August 4, our Right Honourable Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said the state government would consider SHS' request to preserve the building. We will look into this matter because I do not know the heritage value of the nurses' quarters, whether it is like the General Post Office or Central Police Station which have been declared as heritage sites.

Apart from serving as a living testimony of medical development in Sarawak, the facility is also a historical monument on the pioneering nursing profession locally and perhaps in our country.

Great interview session with Astro Arena on 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA XXI)

We had a great interview session with our media friends from Astro Arena and Unit Komunikasi Awam Sarawak (UKAS) at our office recently. The interview was on the forthcoming 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA XXI) and matters related to the event which is the largest to be held in Malaysia.

I had also shared a few interesting aspects on the games including the fact that it features the largest number of sports and games. The venues for the various sporting events and matches are also located in nine different divisions in Sarawak. 

The targeted medal tally for Sarawak contingent is also revealed and apparently a few other state contingents are eyeing similar target which will make this SUKMA an interesting event keenly contested by the participating athletes. 

Site visit to Sarawak Stadium in Petra Jaya, Kuching

I took time to visit the Sarawak Stadium in Petra Jaya, Kuching recently and was delighted with the preparation works which are almost completed in time for the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMAXXI) which is on 17 to 24 August.

Taking our hats off to those who directly and indirectly contributed to the speedy completion of the preparations of the stadium which will be the venue for the official opening ceremony. We look forward to the good weather to continue until the week-long games end.

I was also informed there are athletes from other state contingents who had already arrived in Kuching. We welcome them and hope they have good training session in the respective venues for SUKMA XXI.

Looking forward to "Trans Nusantara 2024" 4x4 expedition which starts in Kuching on August 9

We are delighted to have Kuching as one of the stopovers destinations of the forthcoming "Trans Nusantara 2024" off road adventure event which will be held in August until September 2024.

The expedition will involve 20 4x4 vehicles and will flag off in Kuching on August 9 and will cover destinations in West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and the capital city of Indonesia in Nusantara, Sulawesi, Flores, Sumbawa, Lombok, Bali, Jawa, Jakarta.

The convoy will complete their journey in Kuching and the 40-day long event is a collaboration between Borneo Overland Expeditions and Indonesia 4x4 Overland group.

My appreciation to the organisers for having invited me to grace the flag off ceremony at Kuching Waterfront and we look forward to seeing all the participants soon. Recently I was also invited to chair the coordination meeting which involved Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) as well as related local and Federal Government departments and agencies.

Urging the public not to use the official mascots and logo of Malaysia Games (SUKMA) Sarawak 2024 for commercial and profit purposes.

We have urged members of the public not to use the official mascots and logo of the forthcoming Malaysia Games (SUKMA) Sarawak 2024 for commercial and profit purposes. 

I have mentioned these to our media friends recently and just like other international sporting events, the organiser of SUKMA has the rights over its logo and other trademarks. 

It must not be reproduced or plagiarised unless prior permission has been given. This is because SUKMA’s logo, mascots and related items had been registered under Copyright Act 1987 (Act 332). Therefore, we hope members of the public will not plagiarise or make their own merchandise items and to make profits from it...if they wish to do so, they will have to seek prior permission from us.

I have also clarified that media agencies are allowed to use the Sukma Sarawak 2024 logo and mascots in their news reports and coverage on the forthcoming events to be held on 17 to 24 August. The warning of copyright infringement only applies to those intending to make merchandise such as mugs, t-shirts, etc, using the Sukma logo. 

For the media fraternity, it is a different story where we would love for them to provide exposure and publicity on SUKMA...it is not to tie them down. I believe the media are using the logo and mascots not to promote the merchandise but more on providing news coverage.

Our media friends had on July 30 received a press release issued by Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) that highlighted  legal actions against the unauthorised reproduction and use of the SUKMA Sarawak 2024 logo and mascots.