KOTA PADAWAN: A RM100,000 allocation has been approved to support the expansion of parking facilities at St Ann Church here, aimed at easing traffic congestion during major religious events.
Batu Kitang assemblyman Datuk Lo Khere Chiang said the funding is part of ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure for the increasing number of parishioners attending services and celebrations.
He noted that attendance during peak occasions such as Easter and Christmas can reach up to 6,000 people per mass, placing significant strain on existing parking capacity.
“During major celebrations, the number of congregants far exceeds the available parking, with vehicles often spilling onto nearby roads,” he said when met by reporters after a handover ceremony at the church today (May 4).
Lo added that over the past two years, he had secured RM200,000 under the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) to support the construction of additional parking space behind the nearby Chung Hua School, benefiting churchgoers.
He said the latest RM100,000 allocation is specifically intended to complete the car park within the church compound.
He explained the church currently has about 200 parking bays in total, including 94 within the compound itself.
He added that further upgrades are still needed, estimating that an additional RM500,000 would be required to fully address parking demands, which may be implemented in phases.
Lo also expressed appreciation to the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR) for funding the construction of the church building and 14 classrooms for its Sunday school.
Meanwhile, parish priest Father Don Don Ramerez extended an invitation to the public to attend the church’s upcoming Gawai and Kaamatan celebration scheduled from May 15 to 17.
“The celebration will begin with a thanksgiving mass on May 16 at 8 am, followed by cultural performances and community activities at a specially prepared longhouse within the church grounds,” he said when met by reporters.
The event will feature traditional food, cultural showcases and dialect presentations from various communities, including the Bidayuh, Iban and Melanau.
