KAPIT: Unidentified intruders have vandalised the old abandoned Resident’s and District Offices along Jalan Penghulu Nyanggau and turned them into a vice den.
SALVAGE OPERATION: Dahim tries to find salvageable books and documents in the building.
Among others, used containers and plastic bags for sniffing glue as well as used condoms were found scattered around one building, while books and files were arranged to form a ‘mattress’ in a second floor office.
All the wiring and aluminium fixtures had also been stolen and probably sold as scrap metal.
Kapit Resident Dahim Nadot and his senior officers made the shocking discovery on Wednesday afternoon, when they conducted an inspection of the two abandoned blocks.
“The extent of the damage is beyond imagination and repair for anybody to move in, because all the wiring and ceilings were extensively damaged,” he said.
Other valuable property stolen included an electric generator set, an 80HP Yamaha outboard engine, as well as a canvas set, which were locked inside one of the rooms.
“I’m sad to see the condition of the place. The gate was closed and locked. And I didn’t expect to see such bad vandalism, considering that the Kapit police headquarters is just a stone’s throw away and on the other side of the road is the Mega Shopping Centre.
“I suspect these things could probably have happened during the long holidays in December 2009 namely Christmas and New Year when most officers were away or busy celebrating. The thieves were also busy with their covert activities,” added Dahim.
He and his staff spent several hours looking for useful books, important files, etc, which could be salvaged and taken back to the new Bletih State Complex.
On the next step to be taken, Dahim said he would write to the Public Works Department (JKR) to request they quickly survey the situation at the two buildings.
The old state complex was first used in 1973 for all state government departments here.
The buildings were abandoned on April 1, 2007, when the departments moved to the nine-story Bletih State Complex.
The double-storey district office building was damaged by a fire on July 31, 2009.
The culprits were believed to be youths playing truant and smoking inside the building.