Revised plan further delays Rumah Dayak project
KUCHING: Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) is waiting for Land and Survey Department to approve the revised drawing of the Rumah Dayak building at Jalan Satok here, following the change of the project’s overall development.
Initially, Rumah Dayak was supposed to comprise a shophouse block and a 12-storey tower – however, the revised plan would separate these two into two phases.
According to Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang, the shophouse block has been completed – the SDNU is only waiting for the Land and Survey Department’s approval for the revised drawing before the Kuching City North Commission (DBKU) could issue the occupation permit (OP).
In this regard, he said SDNU had set up a committee to look into this matter and find ways to expedite the works on Rumah Dayak, which he described as the ‘longest- ever running project’ – the foundation for the building was laid in 1997.
“It is close to 15 years now – the Rumah Dayak project has yet to reach completion; the OP has not even been issued to us. Maybe this is the longest- ever running project in history.
“We, in SDNU, have set up a committee to look into this – to get it done and over with,” he spoke during ‘Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) Kuching Branch’s 20th Anniversary (19982018)’ at a hotel here yesterday.
On a related matter Gira, who is SDNU treasurer-general, said the union is negotiating with the developer in transferring SDNU’s 20-per cent equity in the whole development, into the shophouse block.
Adding on, he disclosed that the developer owed to SDNU more than RM1 million worth of rentals and in this respect, it is hoped that the amount could be reimbursed via obtaining some of the developer’s equity in the shophouse block.
“The committee has calculated that based on the proposed 20-per cent equity (in the shophouse) – from the seven shoplots, five should go back to SDNU; this is our suggestion, should the developer agree to it.”
Gira noted that based on an agreement, the developer should have been paying SDNU RM5,000 every month in that the union did not have an office and the Rumah Dayak project had yet to reach completion.
“Based on our calculations, the developer still owes us about RM1 million in rentals.
“However, this RM1 million could be reimbursed via (equity in) the shoplot units,” he proposed.
Meanwhile, Gira said SDNU is expected to hold its triennial general assembly ( TGA) on Feb 23 next year, where it would also host a grand celebration of its 62nd anniversary.
“Our guest- of-honour will be the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“Among matters to be discussed at the TGA will be possibility for the constitution to be amended, as well as the appointment of the new office-bearers,” he said.