FINAL DESIGN: Musa (left) being briefed on the design of the temple by Yu Nam Yin, the architect of the project. Looking on are the Federation of Hainan Associations Sabah and Federal Territory of Labuan president John Lim Yu Sin (second from right) and his deputy Datuk John Lim (right).
KOTA KINABALU: The State Government has fulfilled its promise to provide a piece of land for the construction of the Mazu statue at Bak-Bak in Kudat.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman said the Barisan Nasional government did not merely engage in lip service but had fulfilled its pledge to make available a piece of prime land to the Sabah and Labuan Federation of Hainan Associations for the construction of the statue.
“Your presence here today to brief me on the final design and layout of the project is proof that the State Government has fulfilled its promise,” he said during the courtesy call led by the association’s president, John Lim Yu Sin, at the Chief Minister’s Office in Wisma Innoprise yesterday.
John led a 15-member delegation to brief Musa on the design and layout of the Mazu cum temple development and its upcoming ground breaking ceremony expected to be held in October.
Musa said while the government would consider assisting in the building fund, he also encouraged others to contribute to the worthwhile cause.
“Those who have economically benefitted from doing business in Sabah should play their part and give back to society,” he said.
When completed, he said the Mazu Statue would not only serve a religious purpose but would also give an added boost to tourism in Kudat.
The Mazu cum temple development will be built on four acres of land by the sea at Bak-Bak. Phase one will involve the construction of the statue itself while the second phase will see the building of a temple amid fully landscaped grounds.
Meanwhile, deputy president Datuk John Lim said the association was indeed grateful to the State Government under the leadership of Musa for being sensitive to the needs of the people in Sabah regardless of race and religion.
“We have a government that lives up to the concept of 1Malaysia making Sabah a role model for the concept,” he said.