Praise for bonding KK folks with city’s history
The community heritage exhibition “Bonding With Gaya Street” earned praises from Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir at its launch, here, Saturday. “This programme is connected to City Hall’s vision, which is to make Kota Kinabalu a Nature Resort City, a firmly developed city, friendly as well as peaceful by 2020.
“It also gives the younger generation an opportunity to gain an insight into the uniqueness of Gaya Street through exhibits which showcase its social history, lifestyle and culture, old buildings and shophouses, significant events and incidents, which have influenced the community along Gaya Street throughout the ages.”
“I believe visitors will have the opportunity not only to see the natural beauty of the city, but also a chance of looking into the lifestyle pattern of its community as well as gather bits and pieces of its history as they go along the exhibits,” he said at the Lintasan Deasoka in conjunction with the 12th City Day celebration.
Daily Express is a co-sponsor of the event. The first headquarters of Sabah Publishing House, the publishers of both the Daily Express and Overseas Chinese Daily News, were among the street’s pioneer establishments.
Madingkir reminded patrons and business proprietors along Gaya Street to maintain the cleanliness of the city. He also suggested repainting and renovations to be done on buildings along the street, where necessary, in order to lift the image of the city as well as ensure the buildings are safe.
Earlier, Organising Chairperson Datin Fazar Arif said the focus was on Gaya Street because it is the origins of Jesselton and Kota Kinabalu.
Thus the project is named ‘Bonding with Gaya Street’. Part of Gaya Street was also known as Bond Street in the old days.
“We are all very familiar with Gaya Street but we just don’t look around, we tend to take it for granted. So this exhibition is about slowing down and noticing the details.
“Our objective is to celebrate community and celebrate community history which goes back to the beginnings of Gaya Street as we know.”
She also credited the North Borneo History Enthusiasts (NBHE), a fairly random group of bloggers comprising Sabahans from all walks of life.
“It’s not like we’re learned academics but it’s very much based on love of history and stories as well as collecting stories and old photos from people of Gaya Street.”
She said the first shophouses were built along the area called Bond Street that would later be re-named Gaya Street. The event also saw the soft launching of the NBHE book titled “Bonding with Gaya Street”.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr. Yee Moh Chai , City Hall Director General Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, founder of the NBHE group, Justin Sunam Wong and Madingkir’s wife Datin Florence Malangkig.
Source: Daily Express
