Kota Kinabalu: The state government has been very supportive of the Catholic Church and its activities, said outgoing archbishop Datuk John Lee.

"And I wish to thank the Chief Minister and the state government for the support given to the Catholic Church during my tenure," he said when paying a courtesy call on the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman at Sri Gaya here yesterday.

Lee, who was accompanied by his successor Bishop John Wong and the Sacred Heart Cathedral delegation, said the Chief Minister has been considerate and fair to all religious organisations.

And yesterday, they also paid a special tribute to the Chief Minister for the approval of a five-acre plot of land in Kampung Nagasiba where a church would be built.

A senior church leader, Thomas Fong said that the Nagasiba community had been asking for a church to be built in the village for the past 20 years as the nearby church, Queen of Peace in Kg Kobusak, no longer could accommodate the needs of the growing community.

"We are here today to meet our Chief Minister to thank him personally and the state government for the approval of the land.

"The whole Kg Nagasiba community would like to thank the state government for this wonderful gift," he said.

The church will also carry out a fund raising project for the new church.

Meanwhile, Musa said the state government would continue to support the religious development in Sabah as spiritual growth was important in the overall development of a well-rounded society.

This, he said, was clearly demonstrated by the yearly allocation for non-Muslim religious organisations. "I also wish to thank Archbishop Lee for his sacrifices and hard work during his term of office," he added.

--Courtesy of New Sabah Times