Dr Sim (front, third left) takes a closer look at the plan for the sports community centre in Sibu Jaya. At fourth right is Lau.

SIBU: Several key development projects in Sibu Jaya are progressing well, with the majority of them slated for completion next year.

Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian made several site visits yesterday, covering a mosque project, the construction of an access road and the building of a sport centre.

He was accompanied by Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting, Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) deputy chairman Robert Lau, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Bukit Assek branch chairman Datuk Chieng Buong Toon and SUPP Dudong chairman Wong Ching Yong.

According to Housing Development Corporation (HDC), the new Masjid Darul Husna is set to accommodate the Muslim community of Sibujaya and also those from areas near the township.

“The existing surau is unable to accommodate the increasingly large number of Muslims, especially those coming for the Friday prayer, the nightly ‘tarawih’ prayers during Ramadan, the Hari Raya Aidilfitri morning mass prayer and other Islamic festivals.

“The new mosque can potentially accommodate a 3,000-strong congregation at one time. Moreover, Masjid Darul Husna would serve as a well-equipped venue for many religious activities,” said the corporation in a statement.

Works on the mosque kicked off on Aug 17 last year, and should reach completion on Feb 6 next year.

The ground floor layout covers the grand prayer hall, room for the ‘Imam’ (head of mosque congregation), a VIP room with its own washroom, the ‘mihrab’ (a niche in the wall of the mosque that indicates the direction of Mecca, where Muslims face during prayers), four washrooms – each with its own ablution area, the public ablution area, a kitchen, and a ‘bilik jenazah’ (area where the bodies are to undergo some preparations before burial).

The first floor of the mosque is composed of a main prayer area, three classrooms, a library, a meeting room, an office, a pantry and also four washrooms – each with its own ablution area.

Standing next to the mosque is a multi-purpose hall – the two blocks would be linked via a roofed bridge.

“The hall has a spacious area, with a stage on the ground floor. It also consists of two separate changing room and washrooms for men and women,” said HDC, adding that the facility could house 600 people – or 60 tables – at any one event.

On the ring /access road project, HDC said the proposed stretch would branch off from the existing Jalan Sibujaya Barat.

The works commenced on May 3 last year and should reach completion this Aug 2.

“The road project also covers drainage, the water reticulation system and street-lighting,” it added.

On the community sports centre, HDC said the timeline for completion would be within 18 months from the date of commencement, which was last November.

“The facilities will include a football field, an outdoor eight-lane athletic tracks complete with covered seating area for the spectators, as well as a separate multi-purpose indoor stadium that can house a range of activities – from basketball, futsal, volleyball, badminton and gymnastics,” said the corporation.