Elder Ambrose Linang
MAY the New Year start with fresh joys and new peace, filled with life, warmth, and togetherness. May the Almighty God empower and enable all of us to achieve all of our dreams. Let’s welcome 2018.
It’s New Year’s time – throw away all the worries and get ready to enjoy every bit of this coming year. This new year, I wish that we may not only change the date of the calendar, but also our focus, commitments and actions for a more fruitful year ahead.
As 2018 begins, may we all be able to forgive all those who hurt us in the past, erase all the bruises from our heart, and fill our heart with happiness and peace. Let the family join hands to pray for one another and also promise to be by each other’s side in bad times and good times.
Be grateful that we can see a new year in our life again. Learn from our past flaws and take the world in high spirits. May each step we take be guided by the blessings of God.
The Association of Churches in Sarawak has been blessed by Almighty God in many ways in 2017. This includes ACS’ request to the state government for the setting up of a special unit to look after the affairs of Christians and other faiths. Our prayer was answered with the setting up of the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) in the middle of 2017.
The annual Christmas parades and the National Day Prayer Service and other events were all crowd-pullers.
There was a 40,000 crowd at the Miri Christmas Parade, more than 10,000 crowd at the Sibu Christmas Parade, more than 14,000 crowd at the Kuching Christmas Parade, and thousands at similar events in Limbang, Bintulu, Sarikei, Bintangor, Sri Aman, Kapit, Serian, Samarahan, and Bau.
The inaugural ‘Harmony Walk’ with the theme ‘Unity Is Our Calling’, which involved over 4,000 inter-faith representatives – Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Bahais, and others. It was a runaway success. It was hosted by Islamic Information Centre (IIC). In 2018, the Kuching Buddhist shall host it.
We were also reminded on Oct 10 by the Conference of Rulers that all must adhere to the Core Principles embedded in the Federal Constitution, which were written based on the understanding that Malaysia is a country whose citizens are of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds and that all must be respected.
All who hope for continued unity and stability in our beloved Malaysia must surely take such wise and timely advice to heart for the betterment of all who live in our multi-ethnic and multi-religious community.
For that reason, ACS has always strived to strengthen friendship and brotherhood among all Sarawakians of different racial and religious backgrounds because unity and social cohesiveness are the pillars of our economic progress and development.
ACS wishes to put on record heartfelt gratitude to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for the financial assistance of RM15 million disbursed recently to churches and other houses of worship through Unifor. ACS sincerely prays that this year, the said amount may be multiplied.
Thank you also to Deputy Chief Minister as well as Minister in Charge of Unifor Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Unifor director Datu Dr Ngenang Jangu, and his staff, for being the secretariat receiving and processing applications from all interfaith needs throughout the state.
ACS continues to pray for the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, the Chief Minister and his cabinet, members of the police and armed forces, members of the civil service at all levels, members of the judiciary, and all community leaders. May they rule and administer our state justly and with love and compassion. Endow them with wisdom and godly leadership.
Let us at all times break down walls and build bridges.
Let there be joy in our homes and warmth in our hearts. Let us all take concrete steps to promote structured inter-religious dialogue between all faiths to promote the common principles of peace and harmony.
This year let us make Sarawak a better place for all of us. A blessed and wonderful New Year.
Elder Ambrose Linang is Association of Churches in Sarawak secretary-general.