100% stolen from somewhere.
Fire Erases A Piece Of History
Borneo Post, Friday July 2006
Sarawak, the country's oldest membership club, becomes a pile of charcoal after the 3.30am blaze
By Doreena Naeg and Abang Salfian Nawawi
KUCHING: A piece of history was erased yesterday whe a pre-dawn fire destroyed the country's oldest membership-club, the Sarawak Club.
The club was to celebrate its 130th annniversay in September. Many important documents and artefacts were destroyed, and with that, a small part of Sarawak history disappeared and lost forever. The banquet hall, restaurant, karaoke lounge, conference and meeting rooms and all the furniture and items inside the historical building were also destroyed by the 3.30am blaze.
Other buildings nearby were partially damaged. Losses were estimated to have run into millions. The only part left intect is the swimming pool.
"this is a historical building which has been gazetted by the government as a historical site, and since it is in my constituency, I will aid the management of the club in its restoration," said Housing Mninister Dato Sri Abang Johari Tun Open after inspecting the site yesterday.
He said the building was an administrative centre during the Brooke reign and the Colonial government until Sarawak gained independance through Malaysia.
"the building has housed many historical events of the State. It is part of Sarawak history," he said. Kuching Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) Senior Superintendent Morni Mamat said they received an emergency call at about 3.30 am
"We arrived at the club eight minutes after receiving the call, the main building was already engulfed by fire, and the banquet hall was almost gone.
"We believed the fire had started from the kitchen before spreading elsewhere." Morni said 42 firemen in three fire engines from four stations - Batu Lintang, Padungan, Tabuan JAya and Petra Jaya rushed to the scene upon receiving distress call.
"It took us almost an hour to bring the fire under control. We heard several explosions coming from the kitchen."
The cause of the fire and the extent of losses are being investigated.
Meanwhile, Srk club secretary Chan Poh Hio said the club's management committee would hold a meeting later today to decide on the next course of action.
"Today is a sad day for us. We will restore the building to its normal state," he told reporters at the scene. The club has 2,900 members, with about 12,000 guest patronising the club to use the facilities.
Abang Johari, expressing sadness recalled that Sarawak Club was "the place" to go during colonial times, and he had many memorable moments at the club. Chan, who together with the Club management secretart Annie Sim, who accompanied the minister, confirmed that many important documents and artefact were destroyed in the fire.
The 2nd Rajah Charles Brooke, established the club in 1876.
