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KUCHING, March 20 – The historic Nurses’ Quarters at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) along Jalan Crookshank is set for a major revival, thanks to a RM2 million allocation for restoration and upgrading. This initiative will preserve the site as an important heritage landmark while providing much-needed shelter for families of hospital patients.
Deputy State Secretary (Economic Planning and Development), Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, confirmed that the Sarawak government had approved the funding to resolve long-standing concerns regarding the site’s future.
“As an initial step, we will allocate approximately RM2 million for restoration and upgrading works. This amount may be increased later, depending on further refinements. We also hope the Sarawak Heritage Society (SHS) will play a role in ensuring the building is properly maintained,” he said during a press conference after inspecting the project site today.
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A Win-Win Solution for Preservation and Progress
The decision is seen as a positive compromise between heritage conservationists and infrastructure planners. SHS, which had long advocated for the site’s preservation, reached an agreement with stakeholders involved in the site’s cleanup and the construction of the SUStoM water retention pond.
The restored building will be repurposed as ‘Anjung Kasih,’ a free temporary accommodation facility for underprivileged families of patients receiving treatment at SGH. This initiative will provide relief to those who travel long distances for medical care.
In August 2024, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sarawak issued a stop-work order on the site following SHS’s appeal to protect the Nurses’ Quarters as a heritage site.
Among those present at today’s inspection were DID Sarawak deputy director Law Wee and SHS president Datin Rosemarie Wong-Jabu.