Since the Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak (DUN) or Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building is just less than one minute drive  from the orchid garden, we visited the DUN after we spent hours in the orchid garden.   This is our first visit to the DUN.

This building was launched last year, and I have taken its photos across the Sarawak River from Kuching Waterfront with the decorated boats for some events and celebration in Kuching last July.  This time, we have a closer view of this huge building.

It was not a working day, I got a pass from a security guard at the guard house at the entrance.  The security guard exchanged the pass with my identity card (IC).

We planned to take photo outside the building first.  We were not the only visitors there, we saw a professional photographer holding DSLR with long and big lenses taking the wedding photos of a Malay couple near the entrance.  They use the DUN building as their background.

Take 1: It was a hot afternoon, I asked SiewPeng to hold the umbrella higher so that the building was not blocked.

Take 2: I wanted to include the complete wording of this building.  Can you see the word in red - “Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak”?

Take 3: I wanted to show how huge the building is.

We walked down the staircase to an area where it faces the Waterfront Kuching.  I took quite a lot of photos there.

We found that this wall is similar to a curved wall in Kings Park, Perth, Western Australia.  This curved wall has the name of the building written on it.  We tried to do the same thing as we have done in Kings Park.  SiewPeng stood at the other end of the curve and we tested if we could hear each other if we speak very softly.  Yes, it works.

At this area, we can view the scenery across the river - Kuching Waterfront.

There is a park outside the boundary of DUN area.  We cannot reach it from the DUN area without turning a big round.  It is not far from the Pangkalan Sapi (Sapi Jetty) and the Astana.  Years ago, it seems abandoned when we visited there, I am not sure how it is now.

This is the artistic design on the  curved wall with the flag poles.

While we were taking photographs there was a security guard riding motorcycle stopping by and looking at us from far away (above the staircase).  He did not come to us and we did not know when he left because we were busy taking photos of ourselves.

At the same time, the wedding photographer has changed their location as well.  They were not far from us because they were using the huge golden main door of the DUN building as their background.

Next, I moved towards that security guard and asked if we could further our visit into the DUN building.  He said we can only go into the building during office hour.  He then asked me if we were the people wandering around the building, I said yes and asked him if there is any problem.  I had my visitor pass with me at that time.  He said that visitors are supposed to wander around this area not more than 10 minutes only!!!

It is hard for me to believe, because I was not informed when I got the visitor pass at the guard house.  There is also no written rules about that.  I have checked it from the Internet and could not find any rules where visitors can only stay there for 10 minutes.  And another group of people were having a wedding photography session there.  Why did they have double standard?

Most importantly, if this is the rule (for any reasons especially if related to security issue), they did not inform the visitors or they  also did not take any actions to send the visitors out of the open area surrounding the building.  I also doubt that how would they calculate the time if there are too many visitors coming.  I agree that security is important but this place is made using tax payers’ money, I believe I have the right to be there for a longer period of time so that I can take more photos.

I did not want to get into any trouble, saying thank you, and good bye to the security guard and we get ourselves out of the DUN area.  When I returned the pass, the security guard at the guard house near the entrance has say nothing about being there for more than 10 minutes is not allowed.

I have a lot of question marks in my head.  Next time, if I have the opportunity to meet an MP (Member of Parliament), I will ask if this rule exist.

There is a piece of green and smooth grass.  I have never seen this type of grass before.

We went nearer and we found that it is actually artificial grass which look like the running track in a stadium.  It is similar to tar but it looks softer.

We were at the entrance.  Look carefully, another group of people were taking wedding photos.  They were in traditional Malay costume in golden colour.

We will visit here again when we visit the orchid garden next time, and I will check if anyone tell me that I cannot stay inside its boundary for more than 10 minutes, or if I need to get a permit to have a longer photo session there.  10 minutes is really not enough for anyone to take photos there.