Batu Lintang Government Quarters

On 9th January 2012 afternoon, I came to Batu Lintang Government Quarters Area to have a last look at this once my 'home land'.  From age 5 to 17 I lived here with my family members for 10 years on and off. My late father was a government clerk. We once occupied Quarter No: 66, Quarter No: 117 and Flat PEKAKA




All the wooden government quarters has been demolished including several concretes flat quarters. Only 2 vacant flats remain but will not be too long. 


I walked up to one of the remaining flat. To the top floor (3rd floor) where I could get the best whole area view.  What I saw is a flat piece of land with all the wooden quarters gone. 


I read about the Government allocated this piece of land for commercial development.




2005 was the last time I came  to this area where I once lived.



I had no idea at that time that this 32 acres of Quarters Area already taken over by a private company for commercial development.
 
Only after I left Kuching, I learned from the Web that all the houses would be soon demolished for a commercial mall.


I thought the Government will rebuild all the quarters with new concrete quarters maintaining the same tranquil spacey atmosphere.


If I knew earlier then in 2005, I would have taken a more detail series of  photographs for remembrance.


When I came back again in 2012. it’s too late.


http://violetyong.blogspot.com/2008/05/direct-alienation-of-state-lands-to.html

Batu Lintang Forum : http://forum.catscity.com.my/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2597


Demolishment of Batu Lintang Junior Staff Quarters http://mydifferentperspectives.blogspot.com/2009/11/batu-lintang-junior-staff-quarters.html




Traditional government housing and nice fields in Batu Lintang, due to be developed by Naim Cendera http://www.ehornbill.com/ehcms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4467:2011-11-14-02-43-16&catid=70:2010-01-19-16-20-13&Itemid=93




By 2011 the demolition of the old government quarters are done and  waiting for a mega project to be commence.


The once tranquil living area will replaced by a  Hypermall, Hotel, Condominium & Luxury Office Tower building.

VOON LEE SHAN : 

Bing the Member for Batu Lintang I wish to inform this august House that members of the public were very worried if that big piece of land which is probably about 50-60 acres along the Batu Lintang Road in Kuching between BOMBA and Batu Lintang Open Air Market be alienated to private companies. This piece of land is within the Batu Lintang Constituency. If this piece of land had been alienated to private companies, this will be a serious injustice to the people of Batu Lintang as the constituency in the near future needs land for government clinics, football fields and lands for other sports facilities and other public facilities. At this moment Batu Lintang Constituency has no government clinics, no public library and also lacked public parking spaces.

http://voonleeshan.blogspot.com/2007/12/dewan-undangan-negeri-speech-delivered.html

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After the houses demolished and the land left vacant from human for several years, this low laying area became a refuge sanctuary of birds from the surrounding area such as green road and rock road.

From Batu Lintang to 3rd miles, in the 1960s and 1970s was still swam forest area. There was a small river across rock road about a mile before 3rd miles. I went fishing there by bicycle several times. Many big fresh water fish there.  Any I saw several species wild birds in the bushes (many more I could not see).  Today that swam forest is a concrete jungle of high building (where Timber Land Medical Center located today).  Where is the river with tea color stream water now?  Where are the fishes now?  And where have the birds gone?

Opposite Batu Lintang where Green Road is once was swam forest till 1990.  Aunty Wong Nyuk Lan’s house was beside Green Road and 5 minutes walk from Batu Lintang.  I lived in her wooden house for a year in 1961 and study primary 1 in ST Paul Primary School just 5 minutes walk from her house.  Days were tranquil and quite with little cars or no industrial noise like we have today such as from air-conditioning and electrical appliance.  In those tranquil and peaceful days the atmosphere were filled with singing from wild birds.

“G…..Soci……G……Socii….” were the tunes I hear almost every clear sunny day. It is a species of high flying bird which I never have a change to see or spot in my whole life. What regret. But these birds sang loud and clear each day hiding in the bushy tall trees.

Where have the “G…..Soci……G……Socii….” and all other birds of those year’s Green Road gone?

They might have found refuge in Batu Lintang………. Where else these refugees could go?


In late 2011, Batu Lintang caught the attention of bird lovers from the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS). Interesting and uncommon birds included the Java Sparrow, Long-tailed Shrike and various Egret species they found.

January 19, 2014  Vincent Wong posted on BorneoPost online "Birds at Batu Lintang" was such an exciting and touching account of the birds went missing after human destroyed they heritage in Green Road and Rock Road where I knew where they came from.

Birds at Batu Lintang by Vincent Wong. Posted on January 19, 2014, Sunday Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/01/19/birds-at-batu-lintang/#ixzz37EJFCUrF ****Summarized***** AT the junction of Jalan Batu Lintang and Rock Road in Kuching, many government quarters once stood on a patch of low-lying land. The houses and two flats have been demolished. In late 2011, this area caught the attention of bird lovers from the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS). The interesting and uncommon birds that we found included the Java Sparrow, Long-tailed Shrike and various Egret species. Then, some loyal birders kept an eye on that piece of vacant land and soon discovered more. By early 2013, Buff-banded Rail, White-browed Crake and Ruddy-breasted Crake were added to the list of sightings. In May, 2013 the list also included the Slaty-breasted Rail and Bluebreasted Quail; this was on top of the more common birds that we get such as Cinnamon Bittern, Little Heron, three Egret species , a few raptors, Common Sandpiper, Rock Pigeon, Spotted Doves, Zebra Doves, Plaintive Cuckoo, Asian Koel, two species of Malkoha, a few swift species, two species of Kingfisher, Banded Woodpecker, three species of Munia, two species of Myna, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Bulbuls, Tailorbirds, Babbler, Prinia and the list goes on. Then in July, 2013, bird lovers were startled by the arrival of office containers on the patch where the most Blue-breasted Quails were found. The landowner had decided to develop the land and our focus immediately turn to the quail. Quail are very cute yet because of their short eyesight and small wings, they normally only travel short distances. This would make them the most vulnerable because houses, shopping lots or parking lots occupy all the surrounding areas. We had to do something to save them. Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), being the guardian and protector of all wildlife in Sarawak, was contacted. After some consultation with the contractors, the office containers were moved out. Together with SFC, plans were drawn up to relocate the quail primarily and other birds where possible. On Sept 6, 2013 more than 20 SFC staff members together with 12 bird lovers, including volunteers from MNS, set out at 7.30am to catch and relocate the quail. ................ All birds caught were identified, measured, ringed and put into special pouches. By 4pm, we had caught one Buff-banded Rail, one Slaty-breasted Rail, three White-breasted Waterhens, six White-browed Crakes and 16 (12 males and four females) Blue-breasted Quails. All the birds were taken to Samajaya Nature Reserve and released immediately. The habitat at Samajaya Nature Reserve is very similar to the one at Batu Lintang and this time they will be free to roam in peace under the protection of the park rangers. We left Samajaya Nature Reserve with a sense of accomplishment.......... Read full report : http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/01/19/birds-at-batu-lintang/#ixzz37ENipI3T