Iban Methodist Church still short of RM137,000 for office, parsonage project

SIBU: The RM420,000 extension works on general office cum pastor parsonage for the Iban Methodist Church near Fong Ming Road here is expected to be completed within six months from now

However, the project is still short of RM137,000, despite the church having raised RM283,000.

Local Government and Community Development Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, who performed the earth-breaking ceremony here yesterday, assured the church that he would fulfil the RM100,000 pledge that he had announced earlier for the project.

“I have promised to contribute RM100,000 one or two years ago but because of other commitments, I could only contribute RM40,000. I will fulfil the balance of RM60,000 soon — this I assure you. I fully support the project,” he told reporters here.

The ceremony was also attended by event organising chairman Johnny Wess, political secretary to chief minister Andrew Shilling, Temenggong Stanley Geramong, Pemance James Sembilan, as well as pastors Susan Tunsang and Lau Lee Lam.

Earlier in his speech, Wong acknowledged the key roles of any religious institution in bringing about community togetherness, social harmony as well as order.

In this respect, he pointed out that the government had done its best through the restructuring of society, namely poverty eradication, enactment of laws and education.

“Still, I believe religion plays very important role in regulating people’s behaviour and nurturing them into becoming good citizens. In this sense, churches, mosques and temples play important roles in regulating whatever that is needed to produce better citizens of tomorrow.”

Wong also hailed Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem as a very open-minded leader, advocating freedom of worship among the people, as long as they respected each other’s faiths.

“He (Adenan) has, in fact, done away with so many restrictions, which are imposed in the peninsula.

“In Sarawak, we are all free to do what we want to do as long as we respect each other’s religion,” he said.

Wong (fourth left) receives a token of appreciation from Susan while (from second left) Johnny, Andrew and others look on.

Wong in a group photo with guests and members of the church committee before the earth-breaking ceremony.