THE Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) hails Pehin Sri Adenan Satem as the champion of religious tolerance and racial harmony.
It said from the first day he served as the state’s fifth chief minister, Adenan had stressed that the term ‘Allah’ could be used during any Christian worship and that the congregation could carry their Bibles freely in Sarawak, amidst controversies surrounding the term ‘Allah’ and the confiscation of Bible copies by the authorities.
“When he (Adenan) attended the Miri City Christmas Parade in 2016, he announced that the state government then was giving a piece of land covering more than five acres, to ACS Miri. He also presented a government grant of RM200,000 for the extension of the ACS building here (Kuching),” said ACS through a statement signed and delivered by its secretary-general, Elder Ambrose Linang.
In paying tribute to Adenan, ACS said the late leader was a product of the mission school system — Adenan attended formal education at St Joseph’s School in Kuching.
“He was always open to the comments and suggestions by ACS or other inter-faith groups.”
Adenan gave his consent to ACS’ request to establish a state government unit or department to look into the affairs of Christians and those of other faiths; hence the presence of Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) under the purview of Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
“ACS’ prayers and request were answered by him (Adenan).”
The association also observed that Adenan then kept the ball rolling through talks and negotiations with the federal government on the true spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 the Inter-Governmental Committee and the return of the rights of Sarawakians.