KUCHING: This city will soon have its own astronomy centre, similar to the ones in Miri and Bintulu, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said.
The Premier said he had agreed to allocate funds to develop the necessary infrastructure and complex which falls under the purview of the State Mufti Department.
The astronomy centre, to be called the Borneo Astronomy Centre, will be built in the Pantai Damai area here. A similar structure has been erected in Miri, while the one in Bintulu is fast approaching completion.
“This will enable us to learn the knowledge of falak (astronomy) and look at our galaxies because we can see that knowledge in astronomy has become an important part of our digital world today.
“In the future, this will also become an important feature in the development of human civilisation,” he said in his speech at the Sarawak Fatwa Seminar here, today (July 19).
Stressing the importance of astronomy in the global economy and future developments, Abang Johari said the centre will also spark interest among youths to learn astronomy.
He said arrangement has been made with local universities which established the need to build an astronomy centre and complex.
“Under the infrastructural part of the project the complex will be built first.
“When the complex is there, schoolchildren will be able to visit it, which will cultivate their interest in astronomy,” he added.
Though Abang Johari said the facility will be built in the Pantai Damai area, he did not disclose the actual project site.
“(The facility) will be built on an area along the seaside. This will also allow it to become a Muslim ecotourism area,” he said.
