State Tourism, Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew (lleft) checking out the gutted Kota Kinabalu Community Centre during a site visit. In the background is the gutted recycling centre adjacent to the community centre.
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government will not demolish the remaining structures of the historic Kota Kinabalu Community Centre which was badly damaged in a fire on July 29.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the remaining building will not be demolished as it holds a historical and cultural significance to the state and its people.
She said that a special fund allocation will be sought from the state government for the restoration of the historic community centre which was opened in 1958 by the British colonial government in post-World War 2 reconstruction.
She said Kota Kinabalu Community Centre has hosted memorable events including historical meetings as well government programmes, cultural festivals, community engagements, tournaments, musicals, beauty pageants, and NGO and youth activities.
State Tourism, Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew (centre) checking out the gutted Kota Kinabalu Community Centre during a site visit.
"We don't want to lose this valuable heritage structure altogether. Based on records kept by the Sabah Museum Department, the Kota Kinabalu Community Centre 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 State Heritage Council chairman.
Liew inspected the site on Monday (Aug 4) with the ministry's permanent secretary Datuk Josie Lai, Sabah Museums Department director Abd Arif Hamid, and Kota Kinabalu City Hall deputy director (Financial Management Unit) Victor Gerard Kuasi.
Liew had also called for immediate action to clear the debris around the gutted community centre and cordoned off the area for public safety.
"We do not want people, particularly children and the elderly, to get hurt," she said.
An early morning fire on July 29 destroyed 80% of the community centre as well the adjacent recycling centre operated by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall.
