KUCHING: A ‘floating mosque’ will be constructed on the Sarawak River to further enhance the tourism appeal of the city.
Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said work on the project, which will serve as an ‘extension’ of the historical Indian Muslim mosque located between India Street and Gambier Street, would start next year.
“The mosque will not be very big. It will just be enough to cater to existing requirements,” he told reporters after officiating at Bintangor Sports Day 2014 at Kampung Bintangor here yesterday.
Abang Johari said the existing Indian Muslim mosque had historical values as many religious teachers received their training there before furthering their studies in Singapore.
“The basic of Islam started there (Indian Muslim mosque) and we will maintain its current location, but we will construct another mosque which is more comfortable.
He said the location of the mosque, Anglican Church and Chinese temples, which are within walking distances from each other, would symbolise the religious harmony enjoyed by city folk.
“Religious harmony is one of the features we have that we want to share with our visitors,” Abang Johari said, adding that details of the proposed mosque would be announced soon.
He said the idea to build the mosque was conceived by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to reflect Sarawakians’ high religious tolerance despite practising different religions.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari said the government had allocated RM5 million to construct a bridge from behind the Indian Muslim mosque to Brooke Dockyard.
Abang Johari, who is also Housing Minister, said many ideas were on the drawing board to develop areas in the city that have tourism potential, such as Kampung Bintangor.
“We will connect the Sungai Bintangor Waterfront project to the Bintangor estuary, going into Kampung Masjid.
“It will be further connected to the Indian Muslim mosque that is at the waterfront near the city mosque and passing through the Brooke Dockyard.
“We will also develop a bridge that will connect the waterfront to Brooke Dockyard.”
In line with the plan to turn Brooke Dockyard into a maritime museum and at the same time serve as a handicraft centre and venue to sell Bumiputera products similar to the ones in Central Market in Kuala Lumpur, Abang Johari hoped the villagers would start to plan starting now on products that could be sold at the centre.