KUCHING: The Malaysian Information Department (JaPen) Sarawak staff are sad that the old JaPen Sarawak building at Jalan Masjid has been demolished.
The building served as the headquarters of JaPen Sarawak for more than 40 years before it was taken over by the Kuching and Samarahan Divisional Information Department.
Magdellina Alfred Jeho, who has worked at the Kuching District Information Office for over a year, is sad because the old office holds many bittersweet memories for her.
“Before this office was used as the premises of the Kuching District Information Office, it was actually the original location of the JaPen Sarawak headquarters.
“Before the relocation process, the Kuching District Information Office was occupied by 19 JaPen representatives, including myself,” Magdellina explained.
Zainab Othman, 56, said that one of the sweet memories she could not forget was a visit by former Information Minister, the late Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat.
Zainab, who has been with JaPen for 37 years, has fond memories of the Jalan Masjid office building.
“When the Sarawak State Information Headquarters was still at Jalan Masjid, I began working as a clerk for a day’s pay. Then, in 1996, I was offered a permanent position as a civil servant, “she said.
Mariyati Oerip Marsono,59, a JaPen retiree and former Kuching District Information Officer from 2007 to2009, also shared her memories of the old Kuching District Information Office building.
“One of the memories I will never forget from my time as the administrator of the Kuching District Information Office was having to supervise the most number of JaPen representatives in the district compared to other districts. “she explained.
According to Mariyati, the old JaPen Sarawak building was strategically located in the heart of Kuching City, close to Padang Merdeka, which was frequently the site of large state programmes.
“As a result, if there was a big government function at Padang Merdeka, staff of the Kuching District Information Office were often instructed to cover it,” she said.
