Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The ongoing demolition of the Radio and TV building in Jeddah has evoked strong reaction from citizens, especially journalists, who wanted the 59-year-old monument to be preserved for posterity rather than getting dismantled.

The foundation of the 12-story building on Al-Meena (Seaport) road in Al-Nuzla District was laid by King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz in 1960.

The building remained vacant for many years after its condition became dilapidated.

Walid Bafaqih, director of the branch of the media ministry in Makkah, said five ministers of culture and information had stayed in the building which is considered a landmark in Jeddah.

He said he first entered the building about 25 years ago when he was transferred to Jeddah from Riyadh after working there for about 10 years.

Bafaqih said a new building for the media ministry has been constructed along the municipality road with the Radio and TV having two separate buildings in the same site.

As to demands by journalists to revamp the historic building instead of completely demolishing it, Bafaqih said there was no use refurbishing the building. For safety reasons the building has to be completely demolished, he said.

The ministers who occupied the building were Jameel Al-Hojailan, Ibrahim Al-Anqari, Mohammed Abdo Yamani, Ali Al-Shaer and Fuad Al-Farsi.

Bafaqih said a committee comprising the Civil Defense, the Jeddah Governorate, the traffic police and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage has decided that the building was on the verge of collapse and had to be vacated.

Bafaqih said the committee objected to the refurbishing of the building and decided that it had to be demolished.