START WORK IMMEDIATELY: Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh (centre) with Tiong King Wei (left) and Datuk Tiong Thai King discuss about the plans to improve the leaking roof of Bukit Lima Indoor Stadium. The minister had expected the repair works to take between two to three weeks to complete.
SIBU: The Bukit Lima Indoor Stadium is closed for repairs due to its leaking roof after the Public Works Department has carried out a thorough study of the problem.
Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said he expected the works to take two to three weeks to complete.
He said the flooring and the main stage of the stadium may also need improvement works.
Wong who spoke to reporters when inspecting the stadium yesterday, noted that the wooden stage was damaged by termites and might as well be replaced with a concrete one.
Accompanying him at the inspection visit were Lanang MP and Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King and Sibu JKR engineer Tiong King Wei.
The stadium is a popular venue for the holding of wushu, taekwondo, basketball, volleyball and futsal competitions since its opening in 2001.
In the last three months, the stadium was often water-logged after every heavy down-pour.
Meanwhile, Wong said the proposed RM25 million Sibu Indoor Stadium at the site of the Sibu old airport would have to be built elsewhere.
He said Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud had allocated the site for the construction of the University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS).
“An additional RM10 million is required to have the proposed stadium built at another location,” he disclosed, pointing to the need to carry out another feasibility study.
“Also affected is the proposed IT Library,” he added.