Kuching Civic Centre upgrade ahead of schedule, minister shoots down ‘slow progress’ claims

An aerial view of the ongoing roof replacement work at the iconic Kuching Civic Centre. Photo credit: Jabatan Kerja Raya Sarawak Facebook

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, April 2: The upgrading works at the Kuching Civic Centre are progressing ahead of schedule, despite claims from some quarters that the project is moving slowly.

Speaking during a press conference held at Baitul Makmur 2 today, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said visible improvements, particularly the completion of the roof, indicate that work is actively ongoing at the site.

“It’s easy to make a general statement that the project is slow, but what’s important is that work is actually ongoing at the site — unless you want it to be left unattended,” he told reporters when asked to comment on concerns raised by members of the public about the pace of the upgrading works.

He explained that the Civic Centre’s unique “shuttlecock”-like design makes repairs complex and costly, particularly involving the roof, which alone requires millions of ringgit to fix.

Adding to the difficulty, he said the building’s lift system is currently non-functional while access routes, including staircases, are in poor condition — complicating efforts to transport materials during the upgrading process.

Abdul Karim also highlighted past safety concerns, recalling an incident where strong winds had torn off part of the building’s old roof, which was blown into a nearby residential area.

“Luckily it did not hit anyone. If it had landed on a person or a car, it could have been fatal. That is why we expedited the works,” he said.

Abdul Karim also acknowledged that the project has taken years to materialise due to budgetary approvals for the upgrading works.

“When we ask the public, they will say Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and that it has taken a long time. Yes, it has been like that because the budget had not yet been approved previously,” he said.

Nevertheless, he assured that the project will be completed and that the Civic Centre will continue to serve as one of Kuching’s iconic landmarks.

He also reminisced about the building’s past vibrancy, noting that it once housed a restaurant and lounge that were popular among locals.

“The biggest problem before was the lift. Once that is fixed, everything will fall into place. Just be patient,” he emphasised.

The current upgrading of the Kuching Civic Centre involves a RM5 million allocation for the reroofing of its main tower, with works slated for completion in the first half of this year. — DayakDaily