Federal aid for Likas temple and church
Published on: Friday, March 22, 2013
Kota Kinabalu: The Che Sze Lim Kota Kinabalu Buddhist Association received a total of RM115,000 in Federal assistance to finance the on-going refurbishment of the Pu Tuo Si Temple at Mile 5 1/2, Thursday. The assistance comprised RM100,000 from the Prime Minister's Office and another RM15,000 from the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, through Gerakan National President Senator Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon. Gerakan Sabah Chairman Datuk Gordon Leong and Kota Kinabalu Umno Division Chief Datuk Faisyal Hamdian Yusof Diego handed the cheque to the temple management committee Chairman Yew Kim Chuan.ADVERTISEMENT Leong said the fund was made available through a joint effort and assistance between Faisyal and himself, whereby they submitted a list of proposals for implementation within the Likas constituency for approval by the Prime Minister.They also secured another RM100,000 for the St Simon Catholic Church in Likas in aid of the St Simon Chapel building fund. "This is another evidence of our Prime Minister's commitment and inclusiveness of Barisan Nasional in assisting all religious denominations under the 1Malaysia concept," he said. "I am proud that Sabah has often been mentioned by the Prime Minister as a true and fine example of the cultural religious and ethnic diversity living in harmony and peace," he said, adding this was what the people of Sabah should preserve.ADVERTISEMENT Leong said Najib has also through Gerakan Sabah's request and application, approved and allocated among others, a special fund for the upgrading of the Balai Muhibbah Taman Antarabangsa Likas which is expected to begin soon.Meanwhile, Yew expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and Gerakan Sabah for the financial assistance that would help in its RM1.7m refurbishment.
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"Barisan Nasional has been helping us all this while, thus, we are supportive of it and the Prime Minister's 1Malaysia concept," he said, adding that they have also inculcated the 1Malaysia concept among children at their Pu Tao Si Kindergarten. The temple which is in much need of refurbishment was established in 1972 and covers over 10 acres, making it the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Sabah.