KOTA KINABALU: The century-old chapel on the slopes on Signal Hill here is closer to being saved from landslips thanks to allocations from the federal and state governments.

       The Sabah Theological Seminary (STS) has long feared that serious landslips, following heavy rains, would affect the safety of the chapel and other buildings there.

       The area has been suffering from heavy rains and floods for some time and has been subject to landslips that have been getting from bad to worse.

       The overall cost of remedial work is estimated at RM2mil.

       Following appeals, the Sabah government allocated RM500,000 while the National Unity Ministry recently allocated a further RM150,000 for the remedial work needed.

       STS principal Datuk Dr Thu En Yu and Basel Christian Church of Malaysia Bishop James Wong said they had approached Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor for a grant earlier this year.

       They said Hajiji immediately sent his political secretary Datuk Dr Roland Chia to assess the situation and the seminary received a generous grant of RM500,000.

       “As a Christian community, we can testify to the fact that Sabah is a place of unity in diversity, where the needs of every religious group are treated with urgency and support.

       “The quick response and the generous grant from the Chief Minister is evidence of the Malaysian Family spirit in Sabah,” said Thu.

       Wong, on behalf of STS and all the partner churches of STS, also thanked Hajiji and the Sabah government for their timely assistance.

       STS said it was was also thankful to friends, individuals, institutions and particularly to Sabah MCA Wanita chief Datuk Dr Pamela Yong and local Community Development Leader (PPM) for Likas constituency Dr Chang Kee Ying, who had applied for funds from the National Unity Ministry.

       The ministry responded with a sum of RM150,000 to help STS.

       The remedial work is scheduled to commence in November and complete in nine months.

       STS is an interdenominational seminary that offers a wide range of Christian academic and practical courses to train people to be pastors and community leaders to enable graduates to contribute to socioeconomic development in rural communities.

       The seminary was once used as an informal medical facility during World War II and is now in the STS compound, which houses the chapel.