Reconsider decision to demolish city state library call
KOTA KINABALU: The State Government, particularly the Ministry of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, should seriously reconsider its decision to demolish the 37-year-old City state library here.
In making the call yesterday, environmental activist Dr CY Vun said he has visited the premises recently and found that the library building was still in good condition with no signs of serious degradation of its foundation.
In 2011, the government announced that a RM36 million six-storey environmentallyfriendly new city library complex would be built on a 1.2 ha site adjacent to the scenic Perdana Park in Tanjung Aru.
The then Assistant Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Herbert Timbun Lagadan, had stated that the new library was to replace the current library in the city centre which would be demolished as the building was found to be unsafe.
The city library has since been relocated to a rented premises at Suria Sabah until the completion of the new city library at Tanjung Aru.
Meanwhile, the current site would be handed over to the Judicial Department for the expansion of the Kota Kinabalu court complex.
The government’s decision to demolish the library was met with strong objection from environmental and social activists. They appealed to the government to maintain the library because it was more convenient not just to the students but also to other members of the public, especially the retirees.
According to Vun, the rental fee for the state library’s temporary premises at the Suria Sabah is about RM400,000 annually or RM38,000 a month, which is a huge sum and a waste of public funds.
He said he was shocked to see that the roofs of the library building, its wooden beams and other support structures had been dismantled.
He said the demolition work were being carried out at night and urged the ministry to clarify whether a legal contractor has been engaged to do the work, which was messy and being done hastily.
According to him, the library building which was built using quality construction materials and with good workmanship can still last many years.
“I can see that the building is still perfectly fit and strong without any major signs of cracks or degradation to its foundation, and a structural engineer can be engaged to carry out a core-test to prove this.
“So given its historical value and strategic location, the government should seriously consider preserving it and renovate the building for public and private purposes as it is a suitable place for cultural, exhibition and promotional activities,” Vun added.