Floating mosque 60% complete

Abang Johari taking a closer look at the construction being done at the project site.

KUCHING: Sarawak’s first floating mosque at the Kuching Waterfont, once completed this September, will be a unique addition that will further boost tourism at the city centre.

The over RM10mil project is currently at 60% completion but Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has already envisioned a future where the mosque becomes a popular tourism attraction.

The project, situated at the Old Kuching town of Gambier Street and not far from the iconic Darul Hana Bridge and Sarawak Legislative Assembly Complex, will also see the expansion of the waterfront to connect with the Kuching Esplanade.

Abang Johari said the future project would see the waterfront expanding towards Brooke Dockyard and the old state mosque.

“The floating mosque has a unique architectural design and will be different from other mosques that we have built.

“Some of the design has architecture elements from mosques in Turkey,” he told reporters after a site visit to look at its progress on Tuesday.

Abang Johari visiting the floating mosque project site to check on the building’s progress. — Photos: ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star

Abang Johari said the floating mosque would have a capacity of about 1,000 people.

He expressed hope that the mosque would open its doors to the public as soon as this year.

Touching on the waterfront project on the opposite side of the Sarawak River, the chief minister said plans were afoot to expand the waterfront from Kampung Sungai Bedil to Kampung Tanjung within the next two years.

To further beautify the riverbanks at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Complex area, the government has embarked on a project to build a walkway together with musical water fountains and colourful light display as another attraction in the area.

Abang Johari said the fountain will be programmed to put on a show periodically throughout the evening.

“The musical fountain project is also targeted to be completed this September. This structure will be a new attraction that will benefit the city area, including the Main Bazaar and Gambier Street, all the way to Market Street,” he continued.