The plan is to use the hall for our seventh convocation, which will be held in August this year.

Prof Datuk Khairuddin Ab Hamid

SIBU: University of Technology Sarawak’s (UTS) Dewan Canselor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud will be the largest hall in Sibu once completed.

UTS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Khairuddin Ab Hamid said he is hoping the contractor will hand over the 4,000 capacity hall by next month.

“The new hall named Dewan Canselor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud is almost ready – we just need to do some internal preparations in terms of furniture and fittings including touch-up works.

“The plan is to use the hall for our seventh convocation, which will be held in August this year.

“So, we are doing all the preparations and we would like to invite our chancellor – Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul

Taib Mahmud to the convocation and the hall’s official launch ceremony,” he told reporters.

Khairuddin was met after a bubur lambuk distribution event in front of Surau Darul Islam, Jalan Bandong here yesterday evening.

He said the the hall is a statefunded project at a cost of RM120 million for a package which also includes a sports complex, a walkway, furniture and fittings.

“It has the capacity to accommodate around 4,000 people with a number of smaller rooms for discussions and seminars. It is also equipped with a kitchen that can cater for a full banquet so, it will be the biggest hall in Sibu,” he said.

He added the hall will also cater to private functions and public events in the future.

Meanwhile, Surau Pusat Islam UTS prepared 500 packets of bubur lambuk for distribution at Jalan Bandong area yesterday evening. Khairuddin said the annual event is held in conjunction with the fasting month.

“Hopefully, in years to come, we would like to do more for the community especially in getting our students involved in volunteer work,” he said.