Sarawak Heritage Society wants govt to preserve historical nurses’ quarters in Kuching

Old Nurses’ Quarters located at the junction of Jalan Crookshank and Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg (opposite Sarawak General Hospital) in Kuching. Photo credit: Sarawak Heritage Society (SHS)

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Aug 4: Sarawak Heritage Society (SHS) has urged the Sarawak government to preserve Kuching’s beloved Nurses’ Quarters located at the junction of Jalan Crookshank and Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg (opposite Sarawak General Hospital) here.

In a statement today, SHS said it has written to Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, seeking his urgent intervention to halt the complete destruction of the nurses’ quarters which they viewed as an integral element of Sarawak’s heritage.

Quoting SHS president Datin Rosemarie Wong-Jabu when addressing SHS members during the society’s annual general meeting (AGM) yesterday (Aug 3), SHS said SHS and citizens of Kuching have been lobbying for the protection of the nurses’ quarters since 2019.

“SHS is aware that there is a plan to repurpose the nurses’ quarters site for the service of the greater Kuching community; as a water retention pond to aid in flood mitigation for the vicinity, the area of Sarawak’s General Hospital, and that the nurses’ quarters building on that site will be fully demolished to meet this objective.

“It is SHS’s humble opinion that the front element of the nurses’ quarters building can well be preserved as it is still structurally sound, stands elegantly along a main road junction of Kuching, and that despite the lack of ground maintenance, upholds her beauty with rich historical values in her own special way, as demonstrated in the paper shared with the Premier, and his esteemed colleague Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts and Minister for Youth, Sports & Entrepreneur Development),” she said.

While SHS firmly supports the need to address flood mitigation, it also believes that the key heritage elements of the nurses’ quarters near the junction of Jalan Crookshank and Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg should be well retained for heritage purposes, upgraded for elegance, and possible commercial use; accommodation for visiting tennis competitors and hospital patient visitors, and/or, a small museum to recognise the contribution of the nursing community to Sarawak society.

“As it relates to the flood mitigation project, the retained nurses’ quarters can very easily be protected from flooding, as portrayed in the core recommendations shared with the Premier,” Wong-Jabu added. — DayakDaily