Liew (left), being accompanied by government officials, inspecting the site of the fire incident. At right (background) is the Recycle Store.
KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry (KePKAS) will apply to the State Government for the necessary funds for the restoration of the historic Kota Kinabalu Community Hall which was severely damaged by fire on July 29.
Its Minister said the remaining building will not be demolished as it holds a historical and cultural significance since its completion in 1958.
She added that the Kota Kinabalu Community Hall had, since then, hosted numerous events, including government programmes, cultural festivals, community engagements, game tournaments, musicals, beauty pageants as well as NGO and youth activities.
“We don’t want to lose this valuable heritage structure altogether. Based on records kept by the Sabah Museum Department, the Kota Kinabalu Community Hall became a cultural heritage building from 1999 until 2017.
“In 2017, it was declared a State Heritage building in accordance with the State Heritage Enactment 2017,” said Liew, who is also Chairman of the State Heritage Council, after inspecting the site of the fire incident yesterday.
She was accompanied by the KePKAS Permanent Secretary Datuk Josie Lai, Sabah Museum Department Director Abd Arif Hamid, and Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) Deputy Director-General (Financial Management Sector) Victor Gerard Kuasi.
The Minister also called for urgent efforts to clear the massive broken debris and cordon off the affected area in the interest of public safety.
“We do not want people, particularly children and the elderly, to get hurt,” she said.
Also present were KePKAS Deputy Permanent Secretary II Datin Cleopatra Asing, Sabah Museum Deputy Director Lester Millip and DBKK Director of Property Management Jamaliah Basir.
