New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building

The New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building (Malay: Bangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak Baru) is the current state legislative complex of Sarawak, in Kuching, Malaysia. It houses the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, where state assemblymen from all over Sarawak meet and preside over debates and passing of laws.

New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building
Bangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak Baru
Map
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeState Legislative Assembly
LocationKuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Coordinates1°33′42″N 110°20′52″E / 1.56167°N 110.34778°E / 1.56167; 110.34778
Construction startedSeptember 2004[1]
Completed31 May 2009
Opening27 July 2009
CostRM 296.5 million
OwnerSarawak State Government
Height
Tip115 m (377 ft)
Roof114 m (374 ft)
Technical details
Floor count9
Lifts/elevatorsUnknown
Design and construction
Architecture firmHijjas Kasturi Associates Aki Media
DeveloperBina Puri Holdings Bhd
PPES Works (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd
Naim Cendera Sdn Bhd

The complex is at the north bank of the Sarawak River in between The Astana, which is the official residence of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak, and Fort Margherita.

The building was officially opened by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu, on 27 July 2009, followed by the Rulers' Conference in the building complex.[2]

History

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State assembly building under construction in November 2008.
 
The state assembly building along with newly opened Darul Hana Bridge at night.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the building was held in September 2004. The main project developers were Naim Cendera and PPES Works. The building was handed over to the Sarawak government in May 2009.[3] The building cost RM 296.5 million to build.[4]

The opening ceremony of the building was held in July 2009 with a river float parade, fireworks, and the purchase of luxury cars which will be used by respective state government departments.[5] The ceremony was attended by the King of Malaysia and broadcast live nationwide.[6]

The Sarawak government added the Darul Hana bridge across the Sarawak river near the building in 2017.[7] In 2018, the Darul Hana musical fountain was added in front of the state assembly building.[8] A 99-metre-tall flagpole was also added to the site in 2023 to commemorate the 60th year anniversary of Sarawak's position as a founding partner in the formation of Malaysia.[9]

Architecture

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The building has nine floors with a height of 114 metres, diameter of 30.9 metres, and an area of 760 square metres.[10] The speaker of the state assembly, Dato Sri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, said that the building would last for 100 years.[10] The cross-section of the building is designed like a nine-pointed star. The building is capped with a roof design similar to a Malaysian royal umbrella (payung negara in Malay).[3]

The public viewing gallery is located on the ninth floor.[3] The Sarawak state legislative assembly is located on the eighth floor.[10] The state assembly members lounge is located on the 7th floor.[3] Meanwhile, the lower floors house offices for the state assembly members, function halls, meeting rooms, an auditorium, and a surau.[3] The state legislative assembly chamber can hold up to 108 members, each with their own office. It also has 142 seats for civil servants, a ceremonial hall accommodating 300 people, banquet hall with a capacity of 1,000 people, a car park for 315 vehicles, and a parade ground.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ New Sarawak State Legistative Assembly(DUN) Building Officially Opened Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad. URL assessed on 6 March 2012
  2. ^ King Opens New Sarawak Legislative Assembly Building, Bernama
  3. ^ a b c d e "New Sarawak State Legistative Assembly (DUN) Building Officially Opened". Cahaya Mata Sarawak Berhad. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b Puvaneswary, Devindran (6 November 2009). "New DUN complex built for the future". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 13 October 2019. Alt URL
  5. ^ CMSadmin. "Cahya Mata Sarawak | New Sarawak State Legistative Assembly (DUN) Building Officially Opened". Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  6. ^ Sharon, Ling. "Opening 'do' cost RM1mil". The Star. Malaysia. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  7. ^ Mohd, Roji Kawi (14 November 2017). "Opening of RM35m Darul Hana Bridge over Sungai Sarawak". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  8. ^ Jacqueline, David (15 October 2018). "Darul Hana Musical Fountain city's latest tourist draw". The Borneo Post. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Massive Sarawak flag flutters from much-talked about flagpole, signals likely completion". Malay Mail. 17 June 2023. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "A building to serve 100 years, says Asfia". The Borneo Post. 23 June 2009. Archived from the original on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2019.