KUCHING: The loss of the iconic Bidayuh House in a fire on October 12 at the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) has prompted swift action to expedite its reconstruction to preserve one of the site’s main cultural and tourism attractions.
Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the matter will be discussed with the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), which oversees construction works at the cultural village.
“This house needs to be rebuilt as it represents part of the Bidayuh community’s identity and is one of the main attractions here.
“I will discuss this with SEDC and bring the matter to the Cabinet so that reconstruction can begin as soon as possible,” he said at a press conference after inspecting the fire site at the SCV today.
He added that the building, completed around 2013, was built at a cost of nearly RM2 million – not including cultural items such as tajau (jars), gongs, and Bidayuh handicrafts that were also destroyed in the incident.
“If we take into account the heritage and aesthetic value, total losses are estimated to exceed RM2 million,” he added.
According to Abdul Karim, the building’s basic structure, such as its concrete pillars, remains intact and will be assessed to determine whether it can be reused.
“If the structure is still strong, we can proceed with rebuilding on it.
“However, the cost will definitely be higher as material and labour prices have increased significantly compared to 13 years ago,” he said.
He added that his ministry is ready to assist SEDC in obtaining Cabinet approval and special allocations if necessary to ensure the reconstruction can begin without delay.
“This project is under SEDC, but the ministry will help speed up the process and any requirements involving Cabinet or special government allocations.
“This has just happened, so we will try to sit down and look into the matter as soon as possible. If everything goes well, I hope reconstruction can begin by January.
“That gives us about two months to fast-track preparations and ensure everything is in order, as there are usually many preliminary processes involved,” he added.
He said the rebuilding process is expected to take about one and a half years, depending on technical assessments and necessary
