Salahuddin (centre) signs on the plaque to mark the official opening of the ceremony while Daud (right), Kadim (left) and other guests look on.
Salahuddin (second left) presses the dome to mark the opening of the new Islamic centre. — Photos by Jeffery Mostapa
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng yesterday opened the new Unimas Islamic Centre which is named after him.
Pusat Islam Tun Abang Sallahuddin, which includes a prayer hall which can accommodate 4,000 people at any one time, is built at a cost of RM43 million.
It is built on a seven-acre site within the university campus, which also has facilities to cater for the needs of university students and members of the public.
Unimas vice-chancellor, Prof Dato Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi, in his speech at the opening ceremony said that the eco-friendly centre was named after the Head of State to commemorate his role in the development of and contribution to Islam in Sarawak.
Salahuddin is the chancellor of the university and is also the head of Islam in the state.
“The inspiration for its architecture was selected from a number of iconic mosque designs from all over the world including the Al-Hambra Mosque in Granada Spain,” Kadim said before the Head of State officially opened the centre yesterday.
“Its contemporary design includes an integration of elements of gardens and natural resources as it is aspired to become a hub of knowledge creation and dissemination for Islamic studies in this region,” he added.
The centre has rooms for teaching staff and meetings and seminar and a 300-seat lecture hall.
On the ground floor is a play school for children of university staff.
“The centre will become a beacon of spirituality and unity through its programme which includes the development of human capital for the university as well as the surrounding areas,” Kadim said.
Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Norkiah, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, chairman of Unimas Board of Directors Datu Dr Hatta Solhi and head of Sarawak Islamic Council Datuk Putit Matzen were among those present at the opening ceremony.