KUCHING: A roundabout paying tribute to Bintawa’s fishing heritage, featuring a traditional kotak fishing boat as its centrepiece, has been officially launched here.
Launching the Bintawa Kotak Roundabout yesterday evening (July 21), Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the landmark was more than a new feature in the area.
“This is more than just a new landmark.
“It is a tribute to the pioneers of Bintawa and a reminder of an important chapter in Kuching’s history,” he said.
Wee said Bintawa was long known as one of Kuching’s earliest fishing settlements, where many early Chinese immigrants settled decades ago because of its proximity to the Sarawak River.
Fishing became their livelihood, he said, supplying fresh seafood to Kuching while contributing to the city’s growth.
He said the kotak, once widely used by Bintawa’s fishermen, represented far more than a boat to the families who depended on it.
“It was their workplace, their source of income, and the symbol of hope for a better future,” he said.
Wee added that as the city continued to modernise, it is important not to lose sight of its heritage, stressing that development is not only about constructing new buildings and roads but also about preserving the stories and memories that shape the community.
He said MBKS chose to revive the memory of the kotak through the landmark so that future generations would know Bintawa’s roots as a fishing community before it became the vibrant area it is today.
Also present were MBKS Deputy Mayor Datuk Zaiedi Suhaili, Bintawa community leaders and MBKS councillors.
