KUANTAN: The Pahang government's new state-of-the-art administration complex - the Sultan Ahmad Shah Administration Centre (PPSAS) - is set to become an iconic landmark.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah said the complex had a different design compared to other buildings, which is inspired by Pahang's coat of arms.
"I have to mention that unlike other buildings, the concept for the design is different. I wanted an ultramodern concept (complex) which adopted ESG (environmental, social and governance) compliance.
"I was informed that this has been done and hopefully the administrative complex will become an iconic building for the people to come and capture images
"I feel fortunate today at being able to attend this event, which I had been awaiting for five years since becoming the Yang di-Pertuan Agong," he said in his speech before opening PPSAS at Kota SAS here today.
Meanwhile, Al-Sultan Abdullah said he had mooted the idea of the new administration complex to his father (the late Sultan Ahmad Shah) to replace the Wisma Sri Pahang which had been in operation since 1976.
"It was around 2015 when I proposed the construction of a new administrative centre as Wisma Sri Pahang was too old... almost 50 years and there were maintenance issues.
"KotaSAS was chosen as I felt it is time for Kuantan city to be expanded and importantly solve the traffic issue. The construction of KotaSAS as a satellite city will ease the pressure on Kuantan town (where Wisma Sri Pahang is located). In 2016, the KotaSAS team submitted the proposal to the then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former Menteri Tan Sri Adnan Yaakob.
"Construction began in 2018 but was halted between 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, I was informed that the project is about 80 to 90 percent complete and it is similar to Wisma Sri Pahang which was built between 1970 and 1976...around six years," he said.
On long-term plans for KotaSAS, Al-Sultan Abdullah said a modern mosque sponsored by United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan will be built nearby.
"He (Sheikh Mohamed Zayed) had voiced his intention to contribute a mosque in KotaSAS and this is due to our silaturrahim" (bonding) of some 40 years. Maybe once completed, we will invite him for the opening.
"We have planned to build a complex for Islamic knowledge and the Islamic Religious Department is spearheading the plans. I hope there will be more development here including housing and commercial centres... the police contingent headquarters will be built near PPSAS," he said.
Meanwhile, Al-Sultan Abdullah, who is also the Sultan of Pahang, thanked Najib for agreeing to build the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) station in KotaSAS, and not at Terminal Sentral Kuantan.
"He (Najib) had agreed to relocate the ECRL station to KotaSAS. The (ECRL construction) progress has been impressive and will be completed by the end of 2026," he said.
In his speech, the King also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to all the 15 Menteris Besar and 22 state secretaries who had carried out their duties diligently and served Pahang since 1948 till now.
Meanwhile, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail in his speech said the RM415.5 million PPSAS consisting of four main blocks which will house the state's administration will adopt green technology to preserve the environment and surroundings.
Also present was former Melaka Governor Tun Dr Mohd Khalil Yaakob who served as the Pahang menteri besar between 1986 and 1999.