Wisma Bapa Malaysia also known as Bangunan Tunku Abdul Rahman is the
Sarawak
Sarawak (; ) is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, ...
state secretariat building housing various government departments, including the Premier's office. It is located in
Petra Jaya
Petra Jaya is a suburb of Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. This suburb was named after sixth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Yahya Petra of Kelantan (1975-1979).
History
The suburb was founded in the 1970s by Sarawak chief minister at that time named ...
,
Kuching. Wisma Bapa Malaysia was designed to be similar to the
Malaysian Houses of Parliament
The Malaysian Houses of Parliament ( Malay: ''Bangunan Parlimen Malaysia''), is a building complex where the Malaysian Parliament assembles. The structure is located at the Lake Gardens in Kuala Lumpur, close to the Malaysian National Monument. ...
in
Kuala Lumpur
, anthem = ''Maju dan Sejahtera''
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, map_caption =
, pushpin_map = Malaysia#Southeast Asia#Asia
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, sub ...
in many aspects.
History
Since its inception in August 1976, the building is sited on manicured gardens. The foundation stone of the Wisma Bapa Malaysia complex was laid by the first
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The prime minister of Malaysia ( ms, Perdana Menteri Malaysia; ms, ڤردان منتري مليسيا, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset) is the head of government of Malaysia. The prime minister directs the executive branch of the fed ...
, the late
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah ( ms, تونكو عبد الرحمن ڤوترا الحاج ابن سلطان عبد الحميد حليم شاه, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset; 8 Febru ...
, on 30 August 1973 at the satellite township of Petra Jaya. The building was completed in 1976 and officially opened by the
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (, Jawi: ), also known as the Supreme Head of the Federation, the Paramount Ruler or simply as the Agong, and unofficially as the King of Malaysia, is the constitutional monarch and head of state of Malaysia. The o ...
,
Tuanku Yahya Petra of
Kelantan
Kelantan (; Jawi: ; Kelantanese Malay: ''Klate'') is a state in Malaysia. The capital is Kota Bharu and royal seat is Kubang Kerian. The honorific name of the state is ''Darul Naim'' (Jawi: ; "The Blissful Abode").
Kelantan is located in th ...
on 17 August 1976 followed by the Rulers' Conference in the building complex.
State assembly building
This building complex also housed the August Institution (state assembly building) () from August 1976 until May 2009. The state assembly later moved to the
New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building
The New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building ( ms, 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 assem ...
after the period. Assembly sittings were held in the August House for over a period of 33 years. As the oldest August Institution in Malaysia, the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly was established after its inaugural meeting in
Bintulu
Bintulu is a coastal town on the island of Borneo in the central region of Sarawak, Malaysia. Bintulu is located 610 kilometres (380 mi) northeast of Kuching, 216 kilometres (134 mi) northeast of Sibu, and 200 kilometres (120 mi) ...
, Sarawak on 8 September 1867. The three-floor building can accommodate about 1,000 people, with 160 seats and a gallery for 224 people.
As of April 2012, the building is under a very bad condition since the state assembly moved to the new building. No refurbishment plans on the building were made.
See also
*
The Astana, Sarawak
The Astana ( Malay: ''Astana Negeri Sarawak'') is a palace in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, on the north bank of the Sarawak River, opposite the Kuching Waterfront. It is the official residence of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, the governor ...
References
{{Skyscrapers in Malaysia
State secretariat buildings in Malaysia
Buildings and structures in Kuching
1976 establishments in Malaysia