KUCHING: The construction project of the Wisma Melayu Islam located in Jalan Diplomatik, Petra Jaya is expected to be fully completed by the third quarter of this year.

Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said that the building was supposed to be completed this July, but there were improvements on the advice of Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg.

“Actually, this Wisma Melayu is expected to be completed this July, but when we did a briefing regarding the progress of the implementation of this building, we saw from afar that it was beautiful with the tengkolok design, but if we looked closely, it looked like a house.

“So the Sarawak Premier advised us to improve it and that is why there was a delay.

“God willing, we have a target so that this Wisma Melayu will be completed in the third quarter of this year,” he said in his speech at the Samarindok Aidil Fitri 1446/2025m Ceremony organised by the Amanah Khairat Yayasan Budaya Melayu Sarawak (AKYBMS) on Wednesday night.

Also present were the Sarawak Governor, Tun Pehin Sri Dr. Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, the Premier of Sarawak and his wife, Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma'ani Tun Tuanku Bujang.

Datuk Amar Awang Tengah added that the Wisma Melayu would be an important landmark for the Sarawak Malay community and a symbol of efforts to strengthen the nation's culture and heritage.

He explained that it would be equipped with a multi-purpose hall that could accommodate 2,000 people and would be suitable for various occasions such as weddings and official events, as well as housing a Sarawak Malay gallery or museum as well as an information and education centre related to Malay history and culture.

"With the completion of this Wisma, it would become a symbol of the struggle, achievements and a brighter future for the Malay community in Sarawak," he said.

Also present were the Speaker of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar; Sarawak Secretary, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, AKYBMS Deputy Chairman, Dato Sri Mohd Naroden Majais, General Manager of AKYBMS Amanah Khairat, Datu Dr. Sanib Said and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews