Kuching historical buildings to go

(NST) KUCHING: Old buildings along a stretch of Sungai Sarawak's south bank in Kuching City will be demolished to make way for the Kuching waterfront extension project.

The stretch, known as Kuching Bazaar, was a bustling trading centre during the White Rajah era.

Among the buildings are Gambier vegetable market, fish market, poultry market, old information office, garment store and Ban Hock wharf hawkers' centre.

The buildings, which are more than 100 years old, will be demolished in three weeks' time.

"Gambier Street is where Kuching started.

"Even if they want to develop the place, these historical buildings should be preserved for the coming generations," Padungan assemblyman Dominique Ng Kim Ho said yesterday, during a signature petition campaign to stop the demolition.

He said he met with officials from Kuching North City Hall and was informed that they had no choice but to carry out the instructions of the state government and go ahead with the exercise.

Ng said the petition would be sent to Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.