SIBU: A new mosque costing RM13mil will be built in Jalan Apollo here to cater to the growing Muslim population in the area.
According to Sarawak Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, the new mosque would be located near the existing one and could accommodate around 600 to 1,000 people.
“The number of people in this area has increased and the current (mosque) capacity cannot cater to the population. That is why when I visited this mosque two years ago, they applied to build a new mosque.
“With RM5mil from Tabung Baitulmal and RM1mil from Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, they can start construction soon,” he said after witnessing the handover of land title deed on Friday (May 5).
The ceremony was also attended by Sibu Land and Survey Department superintendent Mohamad Muazziz Othman and Mosque Construction Committee chairman Hamzah A. Beeran.
The Kuala Rejang assemblyman said construction would commence after the appointment of a consultant and an architect as well as after the project obtained approval from certain parties.
“If you look at the time frame for completing a mosque of that size, the construction is expected to take approximately two years or two-and-a-half years.”
Len also appealed to the communities in the area, regardless of background, to donate to the construction.
“Right now, they only have RM6mil. However, the total cost is RM13mil. I hope the community in this area will help to chip in.
“The people’s representative in this area can also contribute to the project by allocating some funds from the Rural Transformation Project grants.”
On behalf of the committee, Len also expressed his thanks to the Sarawak government for approving the site for the mosque.
