Voon (left) receiving a cheque of RM50,000 from Lau.
KUCHING: The fundraising dinner for Kampung Sudat Catholic Immaculate Conception chapel last Saturday night saw public donations steadily pouring in, giving villagers hope that the rebuilding of the 50-year-old chapel will be realised soon.
By and large the fundraising campaign was a success, thanks to its dinner organising chairman and village security and development committee chief Voon Tarah, who is also an entrepreneur.
This was acknowledged by political secretary to the chief minister Peter Howell Jilan, who was the guest-of-honour representing the dinner patron and Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan. The 60-table dinner was held at the multi-purpose hall of Kampung Sudat in Batu Kawah here.
Howell said: “Judging from the attendance, Abun (Voon) and all his committee members have done well and are successful in their endeavour to ensure that their objective and target are reached.”
As Mawan had pledged a government grant of RM30,000, Howell said the sum might not be enough to cover the cost of rebuilding, estimated to be around RM250,000. However, he expressed confidence that with the perseverance and resilience of the hard working committee, the target was achievable.
“RM30,000 is still not enough but since Abun (Voon) and Tan Sri Mawan are golf buddies, they will be able to talk about topping up in due course. However, the work of the committee should not end there as there are many other ways public funds can be obtained, for instance through dinners like this one and contribution from the kind public,” said Howell who managed to collect RM1,800 by rendering Cliff Richard’s evergreen ‘The Young Ones’ in the Golden Voice session.
Voon on the other hand managed to collect RM5,500 while special guest Catholic Friar Gerard Victor obtained RM2,100 in the sponsored songs session. Among the many diners were Prof Dr Andrew Ragai and his wife Dr Jane, who also collected some donations for their song.
A prominent property developer Martin Lau did not want to disappoint his friend Voon by not only donating RM50,000 to the rebuilding fund but also pledging to match ever ringgit collected by the villagers.
“Let’s say you (villagers) have collected RM125,000 I will match it with my RM125,000. This is my way to help fellow brothers and sisters-in-Christ. This is also to ensure that the chapel can be rebuilt fast,” he said to the applause and delight of the diners.
This opened the hearts of several contractors and entrepreneurs who came forward to donate or pledge a total of RM15,000 to the cause.
Other diners also contributed generously. Others attending the dinner were Padawan Municipal Council chairman Lo Khere Chiang, chapel chairman Peter Rijia Bisen and village head Atiaman Jiteu @ Kelvin.
In his speech, Voon thanked Mawan for consenting to be the patron of the dinner, whom he described as approachable, responsive and a friend.
“If there is no Tan Sri William Mawan, I do not know which other government elected representatives to go to,” he said, lamenting that Stampin parliamentary constituency and Batu Kawah state constituency are currently held by opposition representatives.
Lo, who also spoke, urged the villagers to vote for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next state election. He also reminded them to work hand in hand with the councillor in charge of their area instead of bringing their grouses to opposition representatives.
In addition, he suggested that organisers of fundraising dinners for churches and temples invite people of other races and religions to their functions, believing they would be happy to come and give their support.
He related that a few nights ago he attended a dinner organised by a Chinese temple where the guests-of-honour were Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Islamic Affairs) cum Tupong assemblyman Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman and Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister cum Dalat assemblywoman Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, who are Muslims.