Make Kota Samarahan a great place, folk told
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Kota Samarahan Municipal Council chairman Dato Peter Minos calls for the cooperation of residents to make the town a quality place to live and study in.
With two major public universities – Universiti Malaysia Sarawak ( Unimas) and Universiti Teknologi Mara ( UiTM) – already in place, he was confident that this municipal would continue to be a key education hub in Sarawak.
People have every reason to be thankful to God for the privilege and freedom of worship in Malaysia when there are countries that do not allow people to enjoy any of these. Father Dennis Gimang, St Francis Church priestin-charge
In this respect, he thanked entrepreneurs from all over the state for setting up businesses such as shops and supermarkets in Kota Samarahan serving its growing population.
Minos was speaking when officiating at the Anglican St Francis Church-Farley Supermarket’s Christmas parade themed ‘Joy to the World’ here on Sunday night.
The event, held in collaboration with the Christian students groups of Unimas and UiTM Kota Samarahan, gathered hundreds of people from all races at the compound of Farley Supermarket.
In his remarks, Minos described Christmas as a time for merriment and thankfulness. For the local residents, he said it was a good occasion to celebrate the elevation of the district council to a municipal council.
“As the ‘ ketua kampung’ ( headman) of Kota Samarahan, I would like to thank God for the elevation of Kota Samarahan District Council to Kota Samarahan Municipal Council. I have to thank particularly entrepreneurs from Sibu and Sarikei together with those from all over Sarawak for helping the council to make the town a good place to live and study in,” he said.
Among the activities were a procession by members of the Christian community around the supermarket, a praise and worship session and also blessed draws.
Meanwhile, St Francis Church priest-in- charge Fr Dennis Gimang said Christians had every reason to rejoice during Christmas, knowing that more than 2,000 years ago, God reached out to man in human form, lived amongst men, died and rose from the dead to save them from sin.
He said people should thank God for the peace and racial harmony that they had been enjoying.
“People have every reason to be thankful to God for the privilege and freedom of worship in Malaysia when there are countries that do not allow people to enjoy any of these,” Dennis said.
Farley Supermarket managing director Lau Siew Whye, its general manager Eiseng Lau and Minos’ wife Datin Emy were among those present.