By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 10: Deputy Premier of Sarawak Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian has urged for ongoing fundraising efforts to support the timely completion of St Mark’s Church in Batu Kawah, including its Phase 1 extension and Bell Tower, as it will contribute to the development of Batu Kawah.
Dr Sim stated in a Facebook post yesterday (March 9) that Batu Kawa has experienced rapid development since 2016 and that St Mark’s Church, which was completed in 1999, is severely inadequate to accommodate the rapidly expanding congregations.
“Phase 1 includes the parish office, priests’ and caretaker quarters, utility room, and a new toilet to serve the community. The Bell Tower and Phase 1 construction will take about 15 months and will cost around RM6.3 million,” he said.
Dr Sim, who is also Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government (MPHLG) Sarawak, officiated at the earth-breaking ceremony for the extension building of St Mark’s Church yesterday on the church grounds here.
“Thank you to the St Mark’s community and the church leadership under Rev Father Felix for undertaking various fundraising initiatives in 2023, raising RM1.5 million (excluding RM500,000 from Unit for Other Religions).
“With the groundbreaking, let us continue our fundraising efforts to complete our Bell Tower and Phase 1 on time. Making a difference for both St Mark’s and Batu Kawa,” he added. — DayakDaily
