Abdul Karim gestures during the press conference today.

KUCHING (Aug 6): The plan to demolish a historic Nurses’ Quarters building at Jalan Crookshank here should be suspended pending the study of alternative proposals to mitigate flooding in the surrounding area, said Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

The Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister said he was aware of the concerns raised by the Sarawak Heritage Society, which is calling for urgent government intervention to halt the demolition plan to build a water retention pond.

“Personally, I see it is an old building down there, which I deem it as carrying sentimental value for those who had been through it. During the early days, a lot of people want to be nurses because there were not many careers they could pursue,” Abdul Karim told a press conference for the BorneoCraft Global Expo and Conference 2024 in Petra Jaya here today.

He opined that his ministry, which oversees the management of heritage buildings, should have been consulted before the plan to demolish the historic building was approved.

He said alternative solutions should be considered by the agencies involved, such as the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), to mitigate the occurrence of floods in the surrounding areas before proceeding with the plan to demolish the old building.

“The moment you demolish a heritage building, you can never rebuild it back. History will be lost,” said Abdul Karim.

Photo shows the old Nurses’ Quarters. — Sarawak Heritage Society photo

The proposed water retention pond is to address flooding at the Sarawak General Hospital and its surrounding areas during heavy downpours.

Abdul Karim added that if the demolition of the building to construct the water retention pond is the only solution to mitigate flooding in the area then he would support it.

On Sunday, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said his government would look into the Sarawak Heritage Society’s request for the historic Nurses’ Quarters at Jalan Crookshank to be preserved.

The old Nurses’ Quarters dates back to the colonial era and many nurses as well as nursing students from all over Sarawak stayed there.

To sign the Sarawak Heritage Society’s petition against the demolition of the old Nurses’ Quarters, go to here.