First phase of Rumah Seri Kenangan Kuching 80 pct complete

KUCHING: The first phase of the reconstruction of Rumah Seri Kenangan Kuching is now 80 per cent complete and would be completed in June this year.

Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said work to ensure that the building was a safe and conducive place to live in was ongoing. The second phase would also start this year.

“There is a possibility that the place will be noisy and dusty when the second phase starts and this must be taken into consideration as it is detrimental to the residents’ health.

“We will look on the matter again in the near future but in terms of the building itself, the home can be put into use starting June,” she said when met during a visit to the home together with Head of State’s wife Toh Puan Raghad Kurdi Taib yesterday.

The home, which has been temporarily put up at Samarahan Rehabilitation Centre near Jalan Datuk Muhammad Musa here, has 79 residents (45 males and 34 females) made up of Malays, Chinese, Ibans, Bidayuhs, Indians, Javanese, Serani and Kelabits.

Fatimah said that work in the first phase included the construction of residential blocks and administration building.

The second phase would involve additional features such as staff quarters and a hall, which were awaiting the tender process.

When completed, Rumah Seri Kenangan Kuching will be able to accommodate about 150 residents.

Fatimah also said the state government would rebuild Rumah Seri Kenangan in Sibu.

“The old one will be demolished. Its residents will be placed at Rumah Kanak-Kanak ( RKK) Sri Aman while some are relocated here,” she added.

Several new civil servants who are undergoing the On Boarding ( OB) 30 programme conducted by the Leadership Institute of Sarawak Civil Service (SCS) were also present at the centre yesterday to carry out voluntary work.

Fatimah welcomed their involvement in charitable activities to inculcate the spirit of volunteerism within the civil service.

“It is not only due to their capacity as civil servants but also due to the fact that they are members of society.

“This is what we want ... civil servants who provide voluntary service to the needy,” she added.

Raghad (fourth left) receives basket of oranges from Fatimah as a token of appreciation for her visit.

Raghad (second left) presents an ‘angpow’ to one of the residents while the (home) principal Dariel Thiong Yiew Seng (third left), state Welfare Department director Abang Shamsudin Abang Seruji (right) and Fatimah (left) look on.