RM55 mln Lebuk Melanau set to rise in Kuching next year

KUCHING (Nov 30): A new iconic landmark celebrating Melanau heritage, the RM55 million ‘Lebuk Melanau’, is poised to rise in the city, with construction slated to begin early next year, said Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif.

Len, who is also the patron of the Persatuan Melanau Kuching (PMK), announced that the nine-storey building on a two-acre site owned by the Sarawak Melanau Community Welfare Trust Board (LAKKMS) has received principal approval from the State Planning Authority (SPA).

Tenders for the project are expected to be called in early 2026.

“We briefed the Sarawak Premier earlier this year, and he agreed to develop this nine-storey building,” he told reporters after officiating a family day event organised by the PMK and LAKKMS here Saturday.

The building’s design will prominently feature Melanau motifs and cultural identity, reflecting its role as a symbol of the community’s progress.

Strategically located near key institutions like Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, the Borneo Medical Centre, the Islamic Information Centre, and several government complexes, the hub is designed to be a practical asset.

“Lebuk Melanau will be ideal for accommodating students, lecturers, or anyone visiting these centres. It will provide much-needed facilities,” Len explained.

The comprehensive facility will include hostel accommodations, laundry services, a multipurpose hall, and other supporting amenities for both the public and the Melanau community.

While the project has been delayed from an initial plan to be completed before the 2027 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, efforts are now focused on expediting the construction.

The project is projected to take approximately three years to complete.

The development marks a significant step forward for a site that has been owned by the LAKMMS for over 20 to 30 years, but saw slow progress until recent restructuring and collaborative efforts between PMK and LAKKMS under the leadership of Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad.