Mosque restoration project to take two years — Dr Annuar

SIBU: A RM2.5 million restoration project for Masjid Al- Qadim will take around two years to complete.

Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee said restoration work on the heritage building would be in two phases.

“The first phase has already started but conservation work is very tedious as there is to be no alteration to the original structure. In fact, the local contractors had to attend a special course in Terengganu.

“We want to preserve as much originality as possible, restoring the mosque to its original form. It has to be monitored by the ( state) Museum ( Department), Public Works Department and consultant – University College

We want to preserve as much originality as possible, restoring the mosque to its original form. It has to be monitored by the (state) Museum (Department), Public Works Department and consultant – University College of Technology Sarawak. Research Dr Annuar Rapaee, Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research

of Technology Sarawak,” he told reporters during his Aidilfitri open house yesterday.

He said phase one would involve the roof and interior belian wood structure.

“It also involves restoration of one of the features – the minaret. The second phase will take off immediately after the first phase or could run concurrently,” said Dr Annuar.

“Probably, it will take two years to complete the project as this is a very old building, which is 180 years old – the oldest building and also the oldest mosque in Sibu. In the state, it remains as one of the oldest mosques. Sarawak Museum ( Department) – they are the one who advised us on what type of contractors but the main consultant is UCTS – they’ve drawn back the old structure and (will) monitor these contractors.”

The mosque was gazetted by the state government as a heritage building about five years ago and is on the Sibu Heritage trail under Sibu Municipal Council (SMC).