Dear SHS Members and Petitioners,
Once again, warm greetings from the SHS ExCo. And late, but very sincere wishes to you all for 2025, and of course; The Year of the Snake!
Here's our update on our lobbying efforts to save the Old Kuching Nurses’ Quarters (NQ).
While the wheels-of-progress grind slowly, a lot has happened. So, let me bring you up to date with matters following recent petitioning activity and discussions with the Authorities regarding the way forward re flood mitigation needs for the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), and heritage protection needs for the NQ.
First, many of you will have seen justified comments of concern by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, as reported in the online version of the Sarawak Tribune, 21 January 2025. SHS has responded with a press-release of its own, and a copy is attached to this update FYI.
In the meantime, SHS ExCo members accepted a kind invitation from Dato Sri Dr. Muhammad Abdullah bin Haji Zaidel, Deputy State Secretary Sarawak - Economic Planning and Development, to a meeting held at Wisma Bapa Malaysia on Friday 6 December. SHS was joined and supported, robustly, by executives of Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) Sarawak Chapter, i.e. the Malaysian Institute of Architects.
SHS shared with the meeting our appreciation for the sense of urgency to establish a plan to address the continuing challenge of flood mitigation for the SGH. And we tabled the most urgent elements of that challenge, sharing them at the meeting and afterwards along with our recommendations in detail. The meeting incorporated various Department of Irrigation & Drainage (DID) Planning & Development Officers, as well as a broad range of interested parties, e.g. Dept of Health and officers from Sarawak General Hospital (SGH).
As a consequence of these discussions, and our discussions with PAM, we have upgraded our recommendations originally shared with YB Dato Sri Hj. Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts & Minister for Youth, Sport and Entrepreneur Development. Our recommendations now, as shared with DID and the Deputy State Secretary, are outlined as follows FYI:-
Expanding the areas of flood-catchment: As with our contemporaries at PAM, we see and shared a solution as being an expanding of the water collection area, which encompasses utilizing the gullies between the hills of Rodway Road, Mathies Road, and Ricketts Road in Kuching, so as to establish a ‘small-water-impoundment-system’ that would capture surface water from the aforementioned catchment area. As suggested by PAM, and agreed with by SHS’s think-tank on this issue, surface water accumulation on Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, particularly around SGH and the NQ, would be significantly reduced.
Sections of the NQ to preserve: As a consequence to the above point; SHS recommended a preservation of the sections of the NQ built in 1945, 1946, 1949 – plus the foyer/entrance at the front of the building established in 1953 (read our press release attached for the logic). We shared our belief that the revised catchment area to the rear of the NQ, in combination with the recommendation for expanding the areas of floodwater -catchment, would allow for a more suitable, i.e. greater area of landscaped water catchment.
Protecting the ground level of the NQ: As to the preservation of the NQ building that we have recommended (see above); we shared the outcomes of our consultations with architects in our process of developing a case for preservation to Sarawak’s Premier and YB Dato Sri Hj. Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. In essence, this was the fact that a water retention wall can be established on the rear boundary of the NQ so as to ensure minimal, if any flooding underneath the NQ.
Usage of the NQ moving forward: As per our recommendations to The Premier of Sarawak, we shared with DID and The Deputy State Secretary the following for their consideration:-
Some storage or housing space for use by the SGH,
Perhaps a gallery/micro museum to recognise the contribution to society by Sarawak’s nursing fraternity, and/or
An office facility for NGOs such as SHS and a place of remembrance in line with her history as a quarter for nurses in the service of supporting the hospital, and/or
Accommodation and resting facilities for low-income families of hospital patients in Kuching, as they have done in Bintulu (See Appendix No 2), and
A coffee shop so as to cater to the above mentioned options.
All these recommendations have been established by consultation with SHS members. And all could be managed by the Administration of Sarawak’s General Hospital, or could be put out for tender.
We now wait for the Deputy State Secretary and/or DID to come back to us for further dialog, and hopefully – hopefully with a Plan that addresses the two challenges. We will keep you posted.
Moving forward, SHS’s ExCo is reviewing membership platforms and membership fees. And in this regard, we will soon have some good news for both current members, and our valued petitioners. Please watch this space.
Enquiries welcome, as always. Simply WhatsApp to +6018 780 2006
With kind regards,
Datin Rosemarie Wong-Jabu
President
Sarawak Heritage Society
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APPENDIX NO. 1 - COPY - 20 FEBRUARY 2025 SHS MEDIA RELEASE
SHS AGREES WITH DEPUTY PREMIER DATUK AMAR DR SIM KUI HIAN – FLOOD MITIGATION AT SARAWAK’S GENERAL HOSPITAL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED
“As does the protection of Sarawak’s heritage – The Sarawak Nurses’ Quarters in this regard,” to quote Sarawak Heritage Society’s President, Datin Rosemarie Wong-Jabu at a recent SHS ExCo gathering.
Responding to recent comments* attributed to the Deputy Premier on the matter of flood mitigation needs for the Sarawak General Hospital, Datin Rosemarie quantified that “we at the SHS are in robust agreement with the need for mitigation.” “Based on the reasons the good Deputy Premier has clearly articulated”, Datin continued, “we equally, and firmly believe the protection of Sarawak’s heritage is as valuable to society.”
Datin Rosemarie elaborated; “the Sarawak Nurses’ Quarters not only embraces heritage of Sarawak that needs protecting as a unique building, one of the only – if not the only example of its genre and era (post WW2 colonial), but also the heritage of Sarawak’s outstanding nursing community.” “We sincerely believe the Nurses’ Quarters can stand as a memorial to the pioneering nurses of Sarawak. And we have articulated how in our submissions to the authorities.”
Datin Rosemarie pointed out that over 2,800 signatures to SHS’s petition in this regard strongly suggests the community agrees with both the issues and needs. But she agreed “that the challenge remains the know-how; how to get both matters addressed. And in this regard we are extremely grateful for the support and distinguished efforts by Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Premier of Sarawak, YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Sarawak, and Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, plus Deputy State Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Datuk Seri Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel.”
“We are also appreciative of the communications between relevant parties, and passionate support by various officers from the Department of Dams & Irrigation (DID), plus our good friends at Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia Sarawak (PAM) who have tabled options for solutions to both needs, as have we at SHS.” “We understand a review is underway by DID, and we welcome, enthusiastically, any opportunity to assist further in this endeavour.”
For further information, please contact Datin Rosemarie Wong Jabu, President, SHS.
*Sarawak Tribune’s posting of 21 January 2025.
https://www.sarawaktribune.com/dry-ponds-essential-to-address-flash-floods/
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APPENDIX NO. 2
BEZALEEL
Article in the Borneo Post Wed. 24 April, 2024 – Page 4. Shared by SHS member
https://www.theborneopost.com/2024/04/24/bezaleel-home-provides-lodging-for-bintulu-hospital-patients-families/
“In summary: This organisation, Bezaleel, provides lodging for the families of hospital patients in Bintulu. Perhaps it could do the same at the former Nurses Quarters in Kuching.”
"Undertaken by the Sarawak Consumer Welfare Association, in collaboration with the Welfare Department of Bintulu Hospital, the conversion of a three-storey shophouse into a budget accommodation meant to provide a place to stay for the outpatients or family members coming from afar. It charges RM10 per room“.
This is the location on google maps: