By Olivia Miwil August 18, 2024
Not published
KOTA KINABALU: Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) is happy to learn that the facade of a shuttered Maybank branch in Gaya Street here has become an iconic photo spot among tourists.
However, the mayor said he had not received any plans or proposals from the bank or building owner on the structure.
The four-storey building, which was built in the 1960s, was reportedly closed on Oct 14, 2017, after it was discovered to have structural issues.
The Maybank branch had since relocated its operations to nearby Kampung Air.
Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah said DBKK was very excited when pictures of the building went viral among visitors to the state recently.
“We greatly appreciate the tourists and locals who have turned the Maybank branch into an iconic structure in Kota Kinabalu.
“To help ensure the beauty of the building is preserved, we have taken steps to clean it, such as removing any moss or dust,” he said after officiating the Bajau Samah Arts and Culture Performance Programme at Dataran Deasoka here.
When asked about the building, Sabin said for now, its usage status remained unchanged.
“So, we leave it to the building owner or Maybank, who uses the building, to decide on its future direction.
“But we hope that, since the building has become a tourist attraction, not just locally but nationally, they can repair it and maintain its design.
“For now, there has been no interaction between DBKK and Maybank (regarding the trading licence or permits).”
Initially, the premises, which is surrounded by other banks, had gained attention among tourists, especially those from China.
Following the presence of Capital A chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes at the same spot earlier this week, more people, including locals, had been stopping by for pictures.
During his stop, Fernandes was quoted as saying: “I didn’t understand at first, but I wanted to contribute to the ‘virality’ of the site. If it helps promote Sabah, that’s great for me.”
Kota Kinabalu member of parliament Datuk Chan Foong Hin said Chinese tourists told him that they were taking pictures at the site because it had become a trend in the Xiao Hong Shu social media platform.
A check at the site today (Sunday), which also hosts the Sunday Gaya Street Market, saw many people queuing up to take pictures.
Riding on the hype, a hotel had also set up a booth to offer 1,000 complimentary drinks to the thirsty crowd.
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