By Brad Rantayy
MIRI, Oct 24: The Sarawak government has allocated RM1 million for the earth-filling works of a proposed ecumenical centre.
The proposed centre will sit on a 5.8-acre piece of land at the Miri By-Pass along the Pan Borneo highway.
Minister of Transport Sarawak Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin representing the State government and Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) handed over the cheque today to Association of Churches Sarawak (ACS) Miri chairman Bishop Richard Ng.
The ecumenical centre will include a function hall, conference rooms and accommodation catering to the needs of the Christian churches in Miri.
The hall will be able to cater for 100 tables andused to host joint activities for the churches while the smaller conference rooms can be used by smaller churches which do not have a venue of their own for Sunday services.
The earth-filling is in progress and after a suitable period of earth settlement, the construction of the proposed ecumenical centre will begin as soon as further funds are available.
“The State government is doing (it) the right way for all of us here and I hope we cherish the government’s effort because we really look after various religious groups in Sarawak,” said Lee at the cheque presentation ceremony.
He said, once the building is completed, it would be the pride of all Christians here.
“I hope our country would have a strong government, like Sarawak which has become a model of a multiracial cultural society,” he pointed out, adding it is the way forward for the people of Sarawak. — DayakDaily
