Marcus (front row, right) presenting the allocation to Datuk Stephen Sondoh (front row, left) for the construction of the St Catherine Church, witnessed by John (middle).
PUTATAN: The Federal Government has allocated RM900,000 to help churches and chapels under the Putatan parliamentary constituency.
Putatan member of parliament Datuk Dr Marcus Makin Mojigoh said the allocation was personally approved by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“I personally went to see the Prime Minister (for the allocation),” he said during the cheque presentation ceremony for the allocation to the churches two days ago.
Churches and chapels that received the allocation were St Simon Duvanson which received RM200,000; Our Lady of Fatima Talang Taun (RM50,000); St Peter Tombovo (RM100,000); St Catherine Putatan (RM400,000); Stella Maris Church (RM100,000); Bethel Church of Sabah (RM10,000); Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (RM10,000); and Calvary Charismatic Centre (RM10,000).
Marcus added that he felt he had not done enough as a leader for the Christian community here.
He also felt that as a Christian leader, more was expected from him.
The elected representative also said that the allocation would also go towards the establishment of a kindergarten in Duvanson.
Citing the importance of early education for children in the district, Marcus said that he also hoped that it would encourage church goers to volunteer to conduct church work.
“I was on a trip to Taiwan and I noticed how people were going back to their village to help teach the children…this is what we want – giving back to society,” he said.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Datuk John Wong expressed his gratitude to Marcus for getting the allocation from the Federal Government.
He added that most of the chapels and churches in the Putatan parliamentary constituency were over 30 years old and were in dire need of repairs.
In addition, he said the housing development that led to the increase in the population in the constituency also necessitated the construction of the bigger St Catherine Church which was about 68 per cent completed.
The materialisation of the four-storey church had been made possible with the help and donations of the State and Federal Governments, parishioners and individuals, he said.
John also explained that the slowdown in the construction of the church was due to the higher cost of building materials and the shortage of funds.
“Though there were efforts to raise funds, the amount is still insufficient,” he said.